Hearing Aid Technology & Options
Today, there are many hearing aid options for people with all levels of hearing impairment. As you make hearing aid comparisons, you’ll find that some people still prefer the older analog hearing aids. These prototypes, however, are beginning to be phased out and will eventually be discarded entirely, along with vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CR-tube televisions, in favor of digital formats to keep up with modern technology.
Analog vs Digital Hearing Aids
As you explore the various hearing aid options, keep in mind that just because a product is said to be digital doesn’t mean it is a high-quality product. In fact, sometimes you can find better sound quality with an analog hearing aid than with a cheaper digital hearing aid model. It’s important to be aware that even a high-end, reputable digital hearing aid has the potential to sound awful if not programmed properly by a professional audiologist or hearing aid fitter.
The Technology Behind a Hearing Aid
A hearing aid, simply put, is a sound-amplifying device. Analog hearing devices amplify sound by making the sound waves larger. They use transistors in a circuit to modify and amplify sound, and any changes to the sound are simply made with a volume control. Some analog aids are actually programmable – digitally programmable, meaning their sound response can be changed internally by a hearing aid professional. This doesn’t mean the device is a digital hearing aid, though. It’s an analog device with digital programming capabilities.
The Latest Hearing Aid Technology
True digital hearing aids are known as DSP devices, or Digital Signal Processors. With this technology, a computer chip converts incoming sound into digital code, analyzing and adjusting the sound according to your personal hearing loss, needs, and surrounding noise levels. From there the signals are converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears. Many people prefer these because of their outside noise reduction features.
Get Help Choosing the Best Hearing Aid Technology for Your Lifestyle
The process of choosing the best hearing aid can be daunting, so the more hearing aid information you ask of your audiologist and hearing aid fitter, the more empowered you’ll be to make the right decision for you. For hearing aid information or to make an appointment with a professional audiologist at Metro Hearing, just contact us today!
