What is Digital Technology?

Like telephones and other technology, hearing aids have been developed with digital technology. This is the way sound is processed by the hearing aid, making them able to be more finely tuned to a client's needs.

Advantages

Digital technology attempts to replicate the normal function of hearing.  It can be extremely fine-tuned to suit the amplification needs of the client.  For example, only the appropriate sounds such as speech sounds are amplified while very loud sounds are not.  Other advantages of digital technology are suppression of feedback or whistling.  The common problem of hearing aids whistling when in a client’s ear is usually eliminated with this technology.

Disadvantages

Digital hearing aids are more expensive than older technologies.

Who can benefit?

In order of decreasing benefit, first time users, severe, moderate and mild losses.  At the moment, it is questionable whether profound or extremely severe hearing loss can be helped with digital hearing aids. 

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