Today’s digital hearing aid technology converts sound waves into numerical codes, similar to binary coding used by computers, and then amplifies the sound frequencies according to programmed instructions. Because the codes also include information about a sound’s needed pitch and loudness, each aid needs to be specially programmed to amplify the frequencies more than others.
Digital circuitry is now being used in all hearing aids being made today. The digital circuitry gives a hearing professional more flexibility in adjusting the aid to a user’s needs and to certain listening environments. Today’s hearing aids can be programmed to focus on sounds coming from a specific direction.
Beyond the digital technology, the design, size, amount of amplification, sound quality, ease of handling, volume control, availability of special features, and price points vary by manufacturer. The best hearing aids for you depend on your listening needs, type of hearing loss, lifestyle, and budget.
At Northland Audiology, we work with a large variety of manufacturers to ensure that hearing aids will meet your individual wants and needs.