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Digital Hearing

All electronic hearing aids have the same basic elements; a microphone, a speaker (or receiver), a battery and a electronic circuit.  The electronic circuit varies depending on the brand and style of the hearing aid.  The type of circuit depends solely on the type of audio processing that is used for the hearing aid.  There are two different types of audio processing; analog and digital. 

There are two types of analog processing that is used for hearing aides.  The first allows users to have an adjustable control so that their hearing aid can be adjusted as necessary.  Upon purchase the hearing aid will be set specifically to the needs of the user by a specialist.  After the adjustment the audio of the hearing aid does not change any further, other than overall loudness that the wearer adjusts with a volume control. This type of audio processing is generally the least flexible.   The second type of analog processing is very similar to the first however there are more controls that can be programmed into the hearing aid upon purchase.  The user can change their aid from one control to another depending on their environment by simply pressing a button on the hearing aid.  This type of analog device is generally more flexible than simple adjustable controls.

Digital hearing processing allows users a more personalized and adjustable option for their hearing device. Upon purchase a specialist will program the hearing aid with a external computer device, personalizing the hearing aid for the user.  Fully digital aids allow users to have many additional features that are not possible with analog aids.  . These features  reduce acoustic feedback (whistling), reduce background noise, detect and automatically accommodate different listening environments, control additional components such as multiple microphones to improve spatial hearing, and transpose frequencies. Control signals in a hearing aid on one ear can be sent wirelessly to the control circuitry in the hearing aid on the opposite ear to ensure that the audio in both ears is the same quality. Many aids also have features that are compatible with cell phones, music players and microphone devices.  This means that the user will be able to use their hearing aid for multiple purposes.  With the addition of speech recognition and internet capability the wearer has optimal communication ability in many more situations than with hearing aids alone. This growing list of features includes voice activated dialing, voice activated software applications either on the phone or on the internet, receipt of audio signals from databases on the phone or on internet, or audio signals from television sets or from global positioning systems. fully digital hearing aids from all manufacturers, including those produced currently.

As the technology used for digital hearing devices continues to advance we have seen a large shift from the use of analog hearing devices to digital hearing aids.  It has been found that digital aids have a number of advantages that far outweigh any analog aid.  In our growing world of technology it is important for people to take advantage of the advancements and advantages that are associated with digital aids.  Some of the best benefits that digital aids provide are:

As more and more people have gravitated toward digital hearing aids and moved away from analog hearing aids, it has been found that the digital options do truly have a number of advantages that their analog counterparts do not. Some of the advancements and advantages associated with hearing aids that are digital include:

- Digital hearing aid provide users more comfort then analog aids.  Analog hearing aids often trouble users with discomfort that results from high intensity sounds, which are eliminated with digital aids.

-Digital feedback reduction - There are feedback reduction systems that are so advanced that they are able to monitor for feedback while the user is wearing the hearing aid. When this occurs, moderate feedback is eliminated through a cancellation filter that is included in the hearing aid.

-Digital hearing aid noise reduction - This feature of digital hearing devices is able to reduce noise gain that comes in the form of low frequencies or in specific bands.

-Digital speech enhancement - These systems are effective at increasing the intensity of certain segments of speech.

-Directional microphones – Which allow the digital hearing aid user to hear things in a full 360 degree rotation.

 

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