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HEARING AID PRODUCTS

HOW TO UNDERSTAND HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY

BEVERLY A. GOLDSTEIN, Ph. D.

BOARD CERTIFIED IN AUDIOLOGY

 

LEVEL #1

CONVENTIONAL ANALOG TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in all hearing aid styles.
  • Not programmable with a computer. Prescription set with trimmers.
  • Most basic level hearing aid technology.
  • Loudness is controlled by a volume control. When you turn down the volume control, you turn down the noise and the voice equally. A stationary setting is also available.
  • Acceptable sound quality.
  • Full analog amplification (manages audio signals in large frequency bands).
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Reduced listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Poor word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Analog compression circuit can provide minimal improvement in noise.
  • Telephone interface cannot be activated automatically, must have a switch on the aid.

 

 

LEVEL #2

BASIC DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in all hearing aid styles.
  • Not programmable with a computer. Prescription set with trimmers.
  • Basic level digital hearing aid technology.
  • Loudness is controlled by a volume control. When you turn down the volume control, you turn down the noise and the voice equally. A stationary setting is also available.
  • Acceptable sound quality.
  • Full digital signal amplification (manages audio signals in discrete frequency bands) so there is greater fitting flexibility.
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Reduced listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Poor word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Digital compression circuit can provide minimal improvement in noise.
  • Automatically activated telephone interface is available if appropriate.

 

 

 

LEVEL #3

ENTRY-LEVEL DIGITAL COMPUTER-PROGRAMMABLE TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in all hearing aid styles.
  • Program hearing aid prescription with a computer.
  • Entry-level programmable digital hearing aid technology.
  • Loudness is controlled by a volume control. When you turn down the volume control, you turn down the noise and the voice equally. A stationary setting is also available.
  • Improved sound quality over levels #1 and #2.
  • Fully digital signal amplification (manages audio signals in discrete frequency bands) so there is greater fitting flexibility.
  • Computer fixes the hearing aid settings by frequency to match more closely the hearing loss by frequency.
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Reduced listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Poor word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Digital compression circuit can provide minimal improvement in noise.
  • Automatically activated telephone interface is available if appropriate.

 

 

LEVEL #4

MIDRANGE-LEVEL DIGITAL COMPUTER-PROGRAMMABLE TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in all hearing aid styles.
  • Program hearing aid prescription with a computer.
  • Midrange-level programmable digital hearing aid technology.
  • Setting the computer programming controls loudness.
  • Improved sound quality over levels #1, #2 and #3.
  • Full digital signal amplification (manages audio signals in a larger number of discrete frequency bands) so there is even greater fitting flexibility.
  • The computer fixes the hearing aid settings by frequency much more closely to match the hearing loss by frequency.
  • Hearing aids have a push button control on the body of the aid to manage noise and control telephone interface.
  • Electronic feedback manager program in the software.
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Dual microphone technology, with the effect of phasing out background noise when activating the rear microphone.
  • Improved listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Enhanced word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Very good sound quality in most listening situations following several programming sessions.
  • Automatically activated telephone interface is available if appropriate.

LEVEL #5

TOP OF THE LINE-LEVEL ANALOG COMPUTER-PROGRAMMABLE TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in two hearing aid styles (Half-shell and BTE).
  • Program hearing aid prescription with a computer.
  • Operate hearing aids with a hand-held remote control. Hearing aids have no controls on the body of the aid.
  • Top of the line programmable analog hearing aid technology.
  • Setting the computer programming controls loudness.
  • Improved over-all sound quality over levels #1, #2, #3 and #4.
  • Full analog hearing aids whose signal, when wired to the computer, is programmed digitally (manages audio signals in a large number of discrete frequency bands), so there is extensive fitting flexibility.
  • Computer fixes the hearing aid settings by frequency much more closely to match the hearing loss by frequency.
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Dual microphone technology, with the effect of phasing out background noise when activating the rear microphone.
  • Multiple memories for various listening situations.
  • Improved listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Enhanced word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Excellent sound quality in most listening situations following several programming sessions.
  • Automatically activated telephone interface is available if appropriate.

 

 

LEVEL #6
FULLY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

  • Available in all hearing aid styles.
  • Program hearing aid prescription with a computer.
  • Hearing aid noise control is fully automatic. The instrument listens to the noise in the environment and automatically shifts into the proper noise program. It is the only one of the hearing aid levels that can manage noise automatically without an action by the patient.
  • Hearing aids have a push button control on the front of the aid to operate the telephone interface.
  • Top of the line programmable digital hearing aid technology, and the most sophisticated instrument available in the marketplace today.
  • Setting the computer programming controls loudness.
  • Improved over-all sound quality over levels #1, #2, #3 and #4.
  • Fully digital hearing aid whose signal, when wired to the computer, can be programmed digitally with 30 discrete frequency bands, providing extensive fitting flexibility.
  • The computer uses a Personal Logic fitting program, and fixes the hearing aid settings by frequency more closely to match the hearing loss than any other level of hearing aid. The instrument processes speech and noise differently.
  • Good listening comfort in quiet environments.
  • Good word recognition in quiet environments.
  • Dual microphone technology, with the effect of phasing out background noise as the instrument automatically activates the rear microphone.
  • Multiple memories for various listening situations.
  • Electronic feedback manager program in the software.
  • Improved listening comfort in noisy environments.
  • Enhanced word recognition in noisy environments.
  • Superior sound quality in just about all listening situations following several programming sessions.

 

CHOOSING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR A PATIENT

EVERY PATIENT IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES

 WHEN RECOMMENDING AND FITTING HEARING AIDS, THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONAL ABILITIES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE FINAL SELECTION PROCESS:

 

  • Hearing loss
  • Manual dexterity to operate controls and insert instrument in ear
  • Visual abilities
  • Size of the ear
  • Level of memory function
  • Ear use of telephone, and success on phone without an aid
  • Total amount of time spent in all noisy listening environments
  • Level of life-style activities
  • Living arrangements
  • Driving vs. passenger status