Digital Hearing Aids: Basics About This New Technology

Digital hearings aids are the newcomer on the audiology scene. They function similarly to their analog counterparts. However, because of the new digital technology integrated into these hearing aids, they do have some additional benefits. If you're considering a digital hearing aid for you or a loved one, read on for some of the basics of this technology.

How Digital Hearing Aids Work

Both analog and digital hearing aids consist of a microphone that picks up sound. The amplifier increases the volume of the sound to make it louder. The receiver then transfers the louder sound to your ear.

The difference is that analog hearing aids turn sound waves into electrical signals before they amplify them while digital hearing aids turn the sound waves into binary-style numerical codes before they amplify them. This conversion allows the aid to process different information related to the sound such as pitch or volume. Therefore, you can program the aid to amplify certain frequencies more than it amplifies others.

Benefits of Digital Hearing Aids

Because of the advancements in technology, digital hearing aids offer several technological advantages. For instance, they can reduce feedback by monitoring it and then cancelling the feedback out. They can also be programmed to increase desired sounds without causing discomfort with the level of intensity.

In that vein, a major benefit of digital hearing aids is that they can utilize a digital speech enhancement system. These systems work to increase the relative intensity of speech, making it easier to discern. One of the primary reasons people want hearing aids is so they can better follow conversations, which makes this feature a significant boon.

But the biggest benefit from all that technology is that audiologists can program the hearing aids to best meet the user’s lifestyle. For instance, they can add programs for listening in crowded areas or those with excess echoing, depending on the user's lifestyle.

Features Available with Digital Hearing Aids

Going along with those benefits, you'll have some options for features in the hearing aids. These features can enhance and personalize the user's experience.

One feature is the directional microphone, which aims in just one direction. These microphones provide one method for focusing just on the sounds the user wants to hear. For example, you can focus the directional microphone to pick up the voice of a speaker in front of you while essentially ignoring sounds behind you.

A popular feature is the telecoil, which is a copper wire or small sensor in the aid. The telecoil's job is to wirelessly pick up a magnetic signal from telephones that are compatible with the telecoil. They also work with public address systems. The sensor converts the audio loop into sound, thus making hearing in those situations easier. You can turn on the telecoil when needed.

Choosing a Digital Hearing Aid

The type of hearing aid you choose will depend largely on the amount of hearing loss. The reason for the loss also plays a role. For instance, the most common cause of hearing loss is damage to the hair cells lining the inner ear that convert sound waves into electrical signals. Damage caused by age and loud noises inhibits their function. Hearing aids can help manage this kind of loss.

Hearing aids are not a budget healthcare option. However, you shouldn't let price be the major determining factor. Hearing loss, especially if significant, can be a big detriment to your or your loved one's lifestyle. So, you'll want to look at the technology and features that will best help manage the hearing loss.

Finally, also keep age in mind. When it comes to smaller children, some of the larger hearing aids may be easier to break or otherwise unwieldy. For senior citizens, the larger aids may be preferable. They, however, may not utilize or even appreciate some of the features that require them to manipulate the remote or access software.

Don't let hearing loss negatively impact you or your loved one's life. Talk to the hearing specialists at Accurate Hearing Technology Inc. for help choosing the right aids and features.