What are digital hearing aids?
A. Digital hearing aids are the most advanced devices that are available, having a miniature computer processor as the heart of their circuitry. Sound that enters the microphone of a digital hearing aids is transformed into a series of numbers by the processor. These numbers can then be manipulated to affect an almost unlimited number of parameters that change the response for the hearing aid for a patient’s particular hearing loss. After this processing, the numbers are then transformed back into sound for perception by the ear. And of course, all of this is done in real time so that the user does not notice a discrepancy between sound perception and the visual aspects of speech. Though attachment to a computer, all of the parameters of a digital hearing aid can be programmed. The software that is used to modify programmable devices literally provides for a limitless set of changes that can be imprinted into the hearing aid. Furthermore, as the patient’s hearing or hearing requirement
This is the newest (and best) hearing aid technology available today. You may have heard of the word “digital” in other areas of electronics recently. There are digital cell phones, digital television, digital records, digital movies, etc. And now there are digital hearing aids! 100% digital means that the sound is actually changed into numbers (digits) once it enters the hearing aid. The sound can then be manipulated and processed digitally and the hearing aid receives its operating instructions digitally. We use “smart” technology; the aid can actually be programmed to make decisions about what is amplified and what is suppressed! When sound is digitized, it is broken down into its smallest parts and then manipulated to make sound more audible and understandable. The resulting amplification is a truer representation of sound as it is sent to your ear and brain for processing. This can be done without adding any more noise to the system and without distorting the original sound. After
