Analog programmable hearing aids contain a microchip that allows the audiologist or hearing professional to program the settings for different listening environments. The hearing aid may have been programmed for special situations such as a noisy work environment or a quiet home environment.

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is caused by the inability of sound to reach the inner ear. If the conduction of sound is blocked or inhibited on its way from the outer ear to the inner ear, this is called conductive hearing loss. Unlike conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss is a permanent hearing impairment due to the damage or malformation of the cochlea or auditory nerve.

Hearing loss that is twenty-six to forty decibels is considered mild hearing loss. A hearing loss of at least sixteen decibels but less than twenty-six decibels is categorized as slight hearing loss. Mild hearing loss is often left untreated though it can usually be vastly improved with the use of hearing aids.