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Digital and Analog Hearing Aids - How They Work
Digital and Analog Hearing Aids
How They Work
In recent years, hearing aid technology has evolved at a remarkable pace; these life-altering instruments help millions of Americans listen, communicate, and participate in day-to-day activities more effectively than ever before. Indeed, some of the newest models are so small and discreet, they are virtually undetectable when worn; yet, they produce superior results to their counterparts of the past. If you would like more information about how analog or digital hearing aids work, contact NOWiHEAR to find a licensed audiologist in your area.
About Hearing Aids
A hearing aid amplifies sound and improves comprehension for individuals who have hearing loss due to damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear. The surviving cells detect the magnified vibrations and convert them into signals that are passed to the brain. The greater the damage to these cells, the more severe the hearing loss – and the greater amount of amplification needed.
The styles, types, and brands of hearing aids may vary, but all share the following basic components:
- Microphone - picks up acoustic sounds and converts them into electronic signals.
- Amplifier - increases the power of the electronic signal.
- Speaker - sends the amplified signals into the ear canal.
- Battery - the energy source that powers all electrical components of the hearing aid.
Analog versus Digital Hearing Aids
Analog hearing aids convert sound waves into electronic signals. They amplify all sounds (speech and noise) similarly. Analog hearing aids can be programmed for different environments (e.g., a crowded theatre, a quiet library) and manually adjusted. They are less expensive than their digital counterparts, and are a great option for individuals seeking a budget-friendly hearing aid. If you’re interested in specific pricing, an NOWiHEAR audiologist would be happy to discuss the cost of hearing aids with you during a consultation.
Analog hearing aids have mostly been replaced with modern digital hearing aids. Digital hearing aids use computer-based circuitry to convert acoustic sounds into numbers; they analyze and manipulate these numbers according to an algorithm programmed into the computer chip. This allows the hearing aid to distinguish speech from other noises. Overall, digital hearing aids offer a more sophisticated processing of sound as well as enhanced features, which leads to improved performance. Digital hearing aids also support certain features that analog hearing aids don’t. These include:
- Digital Feedback Reduction - reduces or eliminates moderate feedback.
- Digital Noise Reduction - blocks out continuous background noise.
- Greater Flexibility in Programming - matches the sounds it transmits to your specific pattern of hearing loss.
- Self-adjusting - instead of taking the hearing aid into your hearing care professional, you are able to control the different sound settings yourself.
- Automatic Volume Control
Learn More about Analog and Digital Hearing Aids
If you have more questions about how analog and digital hearing aids work, please contact a licensed NOWiHEAR Audiologist today.
NOWiHEAR | 1000 East 146th Street Suite 121 Burnsville, MN 55337 | Phone: toll free 800-308-7290 | Fax: 952-953-3753