Digital And Analogue Hearing Aids

You will usually hear hearing aids being described as either analogue or digital hearing aids. They differ in terms of the way they work and also how they process sound.

Main differences;

Analogue Hearing Aids

Sounds are converted into electrical signals, which are then amplified then passed onto the earphone on the hearing aid.

Some may be programmable for different environments

Usually cheaper compared to Digital hearing aids.

Make sounds louder but may not discriminate between them

Digital Hearing Aids
Sounds are converted into digital signals (data), which are then processed by a tiny computer

Can be programmed to suit each person’s hearing loss

Suppress background noise so that speech is easier to hear and understand especially in noisy environments

Usually more expensive compared to analogue hearing aids.

Whilst digital aids may offer the latest technology, they may neither be suitable nor the solution for everyone. People must at all times compare hearing aids and find the one that best suits there hearing loss and is also comfortable to wear; as some people still prefer analogue hearing aids.

Improve Your Hearing Loss

To add on to this, research has proved that two things which have shown to also improve hearing, especially in noisy environments, more than anything else, is actually wearing hearing aids in both ears and also using hearing aids that have directional microphones. Many digital hearing aids consist of directional microphones which work well in noisy situations, as they amplify sounds that come from in front of you more than sounds to the side or behind you. Therefore a hearing aid user can focus on what they want to hear.

Can Digital Aids Reduce Whistling?

Yes. By having feedback management systems, digital hearing aids can automatically detect any feedback and attempt to reduce the whistling that tends to bother many hearing aid users.

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Types Of Hearing Aids

Behind the ear aids (BTE)

BTE, are by far the most common hearing aids on the market and are also commonly prescribed by the National Health Service. They have a small plastic case that fits behind the ear and are linked to the ear by a small length of tubing and ear mould. BTEs, are known to have great durability and can connect to assistive listening devices, such as classroom FM systems and can also be found in a great range of colours, to suit ones skin. BTE can be used for mild to profound hearing loss. BTE hearing aids tend to be more visible; however recent innovations in BTEs show that they can be less visible, as there are made of thin hair-like sound tubes that link to the ear. These are often less visible than In-The-Ear aids (ITEs).

In the ear aids (ITE)

These devices fit directly in the ear, therefore unlike behind the ear hearing aids; there is no link to the ear by a tube. They can be used for mild to severe hearing losses and there are custom made to fit each ones individual ear. There are quite easy to remove and insert.

Receiver In the ear aids (RITE)

These are somehow similar to BTE but however the crucial main difference is that the speaker of the hearing aid is placed inside the ear canal and thin electrical wires replace the acoustic tube of the BTE aid. The sound of the hearing aid is said to be smoother in comparison to the BTE hearing aid. Another benefit it has is that the speaker-in-the-ear hearing aid can be programmed to accommodate two distinct hearing losses, a sloping high frequency loss and a more severe hearing loss covering a wider range. For the majority of people this is one of the most cosmetically acceptable hearing device types.

Completely in the canal aids (CIC)

ICI aids are smaller and less visible as compared to the behind the ear hearing aid, making them more popular. They work very well as they are fitted close to the eardrum and can be used for mild to moderately severe losses.

Open-fit devices

“Open-fit” or “Over-the-Ear” OTE hearing aids are small behind-the-ear type devices. This type is characterized by a small plastic case behind the ear, and a very fine clear tube running into the ear canal.

Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)

BAHA is an implantable hearing device used to treat hearing loss. The BAHA uses the skull as a pathway for sound to travel to the inner ear. It is mostly used for conductive and mixed hearing loss. BAHA is used to improve hearing in patients with chronic ear infections, congenital external auditory canal atresia or one-sided deafness who cannot benefit from regular hearing aids.

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