Why do hearing aids amplify so much noise and make sounds too loud but not clear enough?
When looking at typical concerns voiced by hearing aid users, one of the most frequent complaints is that noise is amplified too much and that certain sounds become too loud for the user to bear. Some modern hearing aids have sensors that allow the hearing aid to detect sounds that exceed a certain loudness level, and then automatically self-adjust to reduce the amplification (gain) for those sounds. Unfortunately, because noise consists of many of the same frequencies as speech, it is virtually impossible to “shut out” noise without also affecting the quality of the speech signal in a negative way. Fortunately, audiologists have now learned to utilize modern technology to measure and control the maximum sound intensity reaching your ear. If sounds (speech or noise) exceed either the saturation level (maximum level the hearing aid can amplify without distortion) or your personal loudness discomfort level, distortion or discomfort will be the result. Modern hearing aids utilize technolo
Among the most frequent complaints voiced by hearing aid users are that noise is amplified too much and that certain sounds become too loud for the user to bear. Conventional instruments do not have the ability to sort out sounds in the same way the newer instruments do. So when sound is made louder, many sounds that do not need to be amplified, do get amplified causing this problem. When the hearing aids are turned up loud enough to understand speech, the background sound is too loud. When the hearing aids is turned down to a more comfortable level, there isn’t enough information to understand speech. Fortunately, many hearing aids now contain computer chips that allow the hearing aid to detect sounds of different pitches and loudness levels, then self-adjust to reduce the amplification (gain) for those sounds. Unfortunately, because noise is comprised of many of the same frequencies as speech, it is virtually impossible to “shut out” all noise without also adversely affecting the qua
