Analog programmable hearing aids and digital programmable hearing aids are two types of programmable hearing aids. Digital programmable hearing aids are the most popular choice for people seeking a quality hearing aid.
Analog programmable hearing aids are the cheaper type of programmable hearing aids. While analog programmable hearing aids offer a level of customization that that traditional analog hearing aids do not offer, they do not use digital technology.
Programmable hearing aids allow the audiologist to customize the settings of the hearing aid to match the common hearing environments of the individual. The audiologist or hearing professional considers the person's type of hearing loss, tolerance of loud noises, and lifestyle when programming the settings of the hearing aids.
The hearing aid user needs to adjust the settings of analog programmable hearing aids. While the programmable analog hearing aids may have settings for different listening environments, the hearing aid does not automatically adjust to the current levels like a digital programmable hearing aid does.
In addition to automatically adjusting to the hearing levels of the current environment, digital hearing aids offer options that are not available on analog hearing aids. One such option is telecoil technology which allows the hearing aid user to use the telephone and electronic devices more comfortably.
With the use of digital technology, sounds can be evaluated by the hearing aid and noise can be filtered out before the sound is amplified. Traditional hearing aids can only amplify all sounds equally.
Digital hearing aids enhance speech as well as reduce background noise. This makes conversation in groups and noisy environments much easier for the hearing aid user. Hearing aid users often consider digital hearing aids to offer more comfortable listening in many situations.
Digital hearing aids can be smaller models than analog hearing aids. Even the small hearing aid models like the completely-in-canal (CIC) models can be digital.
The main disadvantage of digital programmable hearing aids is the cost. Though most hearing aid users purchase digital hearing aids and some hearing aid companies have stopped making analog hearing aids, some hearing aid users prefer analog hearing aids due to the prices of digital hearing aids.
Allan has a blog that talks about hearing aid reviews and he talks about his quest to find out what's the best hearing aid suitable for his mother. That was also the reason why he setup this blog - to help others find out more about hearing aids.