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| The ABCs of Digital Technology |
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Digital technology has revolutionized the way hearing aids process sound, just like CD players have changed how we listen to music. With digital technology, listening comfort and speech clarity can be provided automatically, with over one million adjustments per second. Digital hearing aids are programmable, which means that the audiologist uses a computer to initially set the devices for your hearing loss, and to subsequently fine-tune and personalize them to your particular needs as you use them. And if your hearing changes, these aids are re-programmable – quite a useful feature! Your hearing loss and needs are as individual as your fingerprints. There are dozens of digital models available. The choices can seem endless and confusing. At HearWell Audiology, we match the available products to your hearing loss, anatomy and hearing requirements
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How they make speech clearer in noise:Directional Microphones: which make sound behind the listener softer, remain the best way to increase the signal-to-noise ratio to help hearing aid users hear better in noisy environments. Directional microphones used to be available only in behind-the-ear or large in-the-ear instruments. Now they are available in all sizes except the tiny completely in the canal size! And most aids change to directional microphones in noise automatically, so you don't have to fuss with buttons. More advanced directional mic systems go one step further, with systems which locate the loudest noise input, whether it is to the side of, or behind the listener, and track and apply noise reduction as the annoying sound source changes location. There are even some newer digital instruments that can reduce several different sound sources at several different locations simultaneously. Amazing! Artificial Intelligence: sound processing that allows the computer chip to make multiple, real-time noise suppression and directional decisions utilizing parallel processing, always with the objective of enhancing speech perception in that particular moment and in that particular situation. The first product to exhibit this was the Oticon Syncro, which has performed very well! Over the past six months, most of the major manufacturers have developed similar products, because they recognized that this type of decision-making strategy was more effective in enhancing speech perception for most users. |
How they control “whistling” or feedback:
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How they reduce background noise: Digital Noise Reduction: In premium digital products, the instrument listens in 9 to 32 frequency bands and makes a separate calculation for each band. If the incoming sound in that band has more interfering non-speech (dishes, music, air conditioning, etc.) than speech, the volume in that band is automatically reduced. If that band has predominantly speech information, the volume in that band is maintained. The result is that speech information remains louder than interfering non-speech input, which is what it takes for you to understand in the presence of noise.
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How they eliminate the feeling of being plugged: Open Ear Acoustics: The reduction of feedback through digital processing has been the catalyst for a completely new line of hearing instruments: Receiver-in-the Ear. These are tiny behind-the-ear device that leave the ear canal open. This open feature provides more natural sound quality and better quality of your own voice, without feedback or whistling as a trade-off. Of equal importance, open ear acoustics maintains the natural resonance of the ear canal enhancing speech clarity. |
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How they have multiple settings: Muliple Programs: many of the digital instruments on the market have the capability to hold more than one setting. These instruments with multiple memories have different settings for very specific situations. For example, the user can select a setting for the full dynamics of music, TV listening, or noisy situations where excessive noise is an irritant. Each setting is customized to the user by the audiologist.
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How they are tuned to your specific hearing loss: Multiple Channels: All hearing aids amplify low, mid and high frequencies, called the “frequency response”. As technology has advanced, the frequency response in digital instruments can now be divided in many different bands or channels and adjusted independently from one another. When the audiologist makes adjustments, specific channels or regions of sound can be emphasized or deemphasized for better enhancement of speech. |
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How they keep track of the environments you are in: Datalogging: hearing instruments with this feature automatically keeps track of the sound environments you are in and how the instrument performs in those environments. Analysis of this data helps the audiologist adjust and reprogram the instrument for better performance.
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How they work on the phone without “whistling” or feedback Automatic Telephone Switch: this innovation has allowed the use of phones without annoying feedback. The instrument detects the presence of the phone when it comes close to the ear, and then switches automatically to its phone mode (telecoil mode) for clear conversation without the squeal. When the phone is removed from the ear, the instrument automatically goes back to its normal mode. No need to press any buttons! |
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