Features Of Hearing Aids Devices

If your audiologist has suggested hearing aids devices to improve your hearing abilities, or you have someone in your family that needs to take a hearing test, then you may be interested to know everything about these useful devices. Few years ago, the only hearing aids devices that existed were the analog ones. However, the great technology developments has brought digital hearing aid devices – the saviour to many people’s hearing disabilities. These are more complex devices in which a microphone collects the sound, which is then converted into digital signals. After this, the digital signals are processed by a small computer chip in the device. Next, the digital signal is converted into acoustic sound. Digital hearing aids allow for changes in volume, provide noise reduction and other features that are explained in the text below.

Gain (volume) processing

Modern hearing aids devices allow the volume of each channel to be adjusted independently, which means certain sounds can be more amplified than others – quite like an equalizer on a stereo. The amount of amplification in each channel is usually adjusted by the audiologist who has the hearing aid programming software. Manual volume controls are also available in some hearing aids. They are accessed by a button or volume control wheel on the device, or in some case with a remote control.

Number of frequency channels

Different hearing aids feature different numbers of channels. But hearing aids devices that feature more channels are simply better as they can be programmed to better fit your needs. Plus, with more channels the analysis of the sound environment is more accurate, which can increase the function of the hearing aid.

Direction Microphones

The biggest challenge for people who experience hearing loss is understanding conversations in a noisy environment. The best way to minimize the negative effects of the surrounding noise is to have two microphones on each hearing aid – one for the front part and another for the part behind. Each microphone brings information to the processor of the hearing aid, which analyzes the sound in the environment. If a high-level noise is detected, the sensitivity of the back microphone is reduced in order minimize the noise that comes from the back.

Multiple Programs or Memories

These features can be stored in a hearing aids devices and accessed through a push button or a remote control. These programs can enhance the hearing aid for different listening environments and some are also designed for special uses, such as for listening on the telephone or for listening to television.

Self Learning

Hearing aids with this feature are able to remember your volume and program settings in specific listening environments. You can use a push button or remote control to teach the device. For example, if the volume of the device is reduced every morning by using the volume control, with time, the device will automatically turn on at a lower volume setting.

Keep in mind that hese are not all of the available features. Depending on the model you choose, hearing aids devices can come with data logging, telephone adaption, wireless and bluetooth connectivity, remote controls, frequency shifting and other useful features.