Digital Hearing Aids

Answer 1

The future possibilities for digital hearing aids are exciting. Over the last 5 years there has been an increasing demand for digital hearing aids. There are over 20 manufacturers that have digital hearing aids on the market with over 45 different models with prices ranging from $400 to $5,500 per piece. Digital hearing aids have been in the market since 1987 that included the digital signal processing. Due to their large size and high battery usage, they quickly faded out and reaching the year 2009, all hearing aids on the market are digital. Aside from the higher costs, digital hearing aids with digital signal processing can be made in a large range of styles. You can get them to fit behind your ear to completely in the canal. Clinicians and consumers welcomed the new technology for its discreetness. These features all work together to create the most natural sound quality and better hearing.

Digital hearing aids are hearing aids with digital circuits and can process and generate sounds due to the DSP found inside the device. This increases the accuracy during the fitting process to reduce the need for additional external equipment. If you are very social, active, or working, you may want to consider more advanced technology in choosing a hearing aid. When hearing aids are properly cared for, they can last from 5-7 years and can provide hearing comfort in any situation. Your lifestyle can play a big factor in choosing the best hearing aid. The most basic of hearing aids are better for those that spend most of their time in the quiet. If you are not very social, you may not need all the high-tech features of the digital hearing aids. A mid-level digital hearing aid will still allow the comfort for better hearing in moderate noise situations. Most providers will be able to assess your hearing situation to determine which digital hearing aid will best suit you and your hearing needs.

Answer 2

For those that suffer from hearing problems, hearing aids are a miracle. This is the age of rapidly improving technology, and hearing aids have come along for the ride. Digital hearing aids, originally introduced in 1987, have come a long way in the last decade. They now are much superior to their analog counterparts. The following is a guide to all the advantages digital hearing aids have to offer.

One of the greatest benefits of digital hearing aids is the improved gain processing they offer. The digital signal processing allows for an increased audibility of sound, without the discomfort that comes with high intensity sounds. Digital signal processing also allows for a more flexible compression than analog signal processing. This leads to a greater audibility with less energy expended. Also, digital hearing aids offer expansion now. Expansion reduces the intensity of low-level background and microphone noise, leading to greater comfort for the listener's ears.

The digital feedback reduction of digital hearing aids is very good at eliminating occasional feedback users experience with analog hearing aids. This means that users no longer have to worry about feedback from random jaw movements or proximity to certain objects.

Digital noise reduction is another great feature of digital hearing aids. This feature reduces the background noises that microphones often pick up, which leads to less annoyance for the user. It also helps to make the speech users are listening to more clearly audible.

The digital signal processing of digital hearing aids allows them to control the directional microphones they have. This means that the processor will determine what directions the microphone should be gathering sound from, depending on things like background noise, acoustics and decibel levels. The processor constantly uses these readings to position the microphones in the hearing aid to capture the highest quality and most audible sound.

One more feature of digital signal processors is that they are able not only to process sound, but to generate it as well. This is a very useful feature when the hearing aid is being fitted. The audiologist can use it to test the sound levels the user hears in differing placement positions. The audiologist can use these results to determine if the hearing aid being used is effective for the patient.

The world of digital hearing aids is one that becomes better all the time. Anyone still using an analog hearing aid should give a digital hearing aid serious consideration.

Answer 3

Digital hearing aids first came to market in 1987. Since the size was so large and the batteries did not last very long, they quickly came off the market. However, now they have come back and are the new revolution in hearing aids. The size is much smaller and the options on how and where to place the hearing aid are optimal. The hearing aid piece can now be worn behind the ear and inside the ear canal. Digital hearing aids can offer the most precise fitting available. The signal processing rate is highly advanced as well. If you think about the sounds that you can hear and sounds that you cannot hear, the sounds that you hear vary in pitch. An example of this would be the keys on a piano. The sounds you hear also vary in volume and loudness. Digital hearing aid processing can re-route the hearing aids' amplification (volume and clarity of the signal that is heard through the aid) through changing pitches and/or changing volumes.

These days, over 95% of the hearing aids sold are digital. But, how do you decide which brand is the best? It is recommended that you purchase the best quality hearing aid that you can afford. The price range is very wide. Siemens digital hearing aids are top rated and receive the best user reviews. The cost of a Siemens digital hearing aid runs around $1500.00. With the hearing aid, you will receive a 3 year warranty, rechargeable battery and lots of other extras in the box. Siemens offers the new and latest technology in their products. Electrone makes a much cheaper model for only approximately $280.00. In a nutshell, manufacturers carry three different types of models. These models are Premium, Mid-Level/Advanced, and Basic/Economy. The level that you would choose depends on three things. These three things are your lifestyle, budget, and degree of hearing loss. There are several options for hearing aids. With the open fit model, the canal is covered by a small thin layer allowing the sound in the ear while amplifying it. A second choice is a remote control hearing aid. With the remote control hearing aid, you have the leisure to control the volume via a small key ring or fake watch. A third choice might be the moisture resistant unit. Moisture is the number 1 repair problem in hearing aids. Moisture resistance would be a great option for most clients. You cannot swim with the hearing aid, but it prevents many repairs over several years. There are several other options for digital hearing aids. Budget and severity of hearing loss are the main factors in choosing the one that is right for you.