| What
Features Should You Look For in a Digital
Hearing Aid?
Digital hearing aids have many features
that will help you hear better and more
comfortably. Some of the features you
should look for are: |
|
Directional
Microphones |
These
are available on BTE, ITE, Half Shell,
and ITC styles
of hearing aids and are the best feature
you can have on your hearing aid for hearing
in noisy places, such as restaurants.
They reduce sounds from behind, so that
it does not interfere with the sound in
front of you that you are trying to hear.
There are different types of directional
microphones. Your AidRight Hearing Professional
will help determine which type of directional
microphone is best for you. |
|
Sound Smoothing |
This is a relatively
new innovation that works to keep sharp,
sudden sounds, like door slams and dishes
clattering, from being overwhelming. |
|
Noise Reduction |
Noise reduction decreases
amplification in the frequencies where
noise is present and there is no speech.
Noise reduction should be thought of more
as making it more comfortable to listen
in noise. The more advanced the hearing
aid, the more effectively it manages noise
because it will break the frequencies
up into smaller pieces. |
|
Manual Memories |
Many hearing aids
can have a push button that allows you
to have different settings for different
situations. You might have one setting
for quiet places, another for noisy places,
and maybe another for music or the telephone.
The hearing aid will make a beep sound
when you push the button to let you know
which memory you are using. Some of the
newest products will actually talk to
you! |
|
Automatic
Memories /
Environments |
These are similar
to manual memories in that the hearing
aid is programmed for a variety of situations.
With automatic memories, the hearing aid
adjusts itself instead of you having to
push a button. So if you're listening
to music, or if you're in background noise,
the hearing aid will change its settings
for you. |
|
Self-Learning |
The hearing aid can
learn your volume preferences and adjust
the internal circuit while you're wearing
it. This helps to reduce trips back to
the hearing professional for minor
adjustments. |
|
Feedback
Cancellation |
Feedback, that terrible
high pitch squeal, happens for a variety
of reasons. Most hearing aid wearers will
experience feedback when they put their
hand over their ear, the phone to their
ear, if a hearing aid does not fit properly,
if a component is faulty, or if the hearing
aid is not properly adjusted. Many of
the most recent hearing aids can control
feedback very effectively. |
|
Wireless
Communication |
Two hearing aids can
communicate with each other and make adjustments
automatically to ensure the best hearing
in any situation. |
|
Datalogging |
Datalogging provides
information about the types of environments
you're in, how many hours your battery
is lasting, how often you use the different
memories, and how much you use the hearing
aid. This provides us with useful information
to help you hear even better. |
