Types of Hearing Aids
Digital hearing aids
Digital hearing aids have been
the cause of excitement for years now. Digital hearing aids
represent the most advanced technology available today allowing
the most precise prescriptive fitting available. Digital hearing
aids focus on bringing understanding of speech through sophisticated
control of the sound signal inside the hearing aid. If you think about
the sounds that you can hear and sounds that you cannot hear, these
sounds differ in pitch (ex. keys on a piano) and they differ in volume/loudness.
Digital hearing aid processing can shape the hearing aids’ amplification
(volume and clarity of the signal which you hear through the
aid) across changing pitches and changing volumes. Another
example would be to imagine a graphic equalizer on a stereo
and imagine how you can fine tune music to your specific listening preferences.
For
most people, hearing loss is usually not the same degree across
the various frequencies/pitches. Due to changing hearing levels
at different frequencies, each specific frequency needs a different
amount of amplification. Digital hearing aids separate the
frequency response into “channels”,
which can be manipulated independently by various “bands” on
the Hearing Professional’s software. This customizes the hearing
aid response to your specific hearing loss.
Today, other styles
of hearing aids (mainly analog) are virtually obsolete. About
95% of all hearing aids sold today are digital according to industry
statistics. Most hearing aid manufacturers carry several different models,
and all the models can be divided into 3 technology levels -
Premium, Mid-Level/Advanced, and Basic/Economy. Which level is best suited
for you will depend upon your hearing loss, lifestyle/hearing needs, and
budget. It is our advice to purchase the most advanced technology you
can afford in order to give yourself the best chance of success and to
leave yourself enough features in the event your hearing loss and needs
change.
Analog
or Conventional Hearing Aids
In the past 10 years, digital hearing
aids have essentially made the use of analog hearing aids obsolete.
These devices still serve a function for some people, however. Various
individuals who have a history of wearing analog hearing aids for several
years sometimes have a difficult time adjusting to and benefiting
from the different way digital hearing aids process sound. This is not
the fault of the person or the hearing aids, but simply a subjective reaction
on the part of the hearing aid wearer. In cases like this, there
are still hearing aid manufacturers that make analog hearing aids.
Analog hearing aids essentially
make all sounds louder an equal amount. They are good for quite
listening but have a number of drawbacks when used in crowd or
noisy environments. From a cost viewpoint, an analog hearing aid costs
the same as a basic/entry-level digital hearing aid.
Hearing Aid Cost
The cost of
digital hearing aids can have a wide range depending on technology
level, features, accessories, and service. Below is an expected
retail price range for the different technology levels. Price ranges noted
are for TWO hearing aids since most people purchase one for each ear.
In addition, the below price ranges include fitting and follow-up services
from the Hearing Professional. Most hearing aid distributors
price their hearing aids with the services included.
Premium Technology – $5,000 and
up with a 3 year manufacturer’s
warranty
Mid-Level/Advanced - $3,800 to $5,000 with a 2 year
manufacturer’s
warranty
Basic/Economy - $3,000 to $3,600 with a 1 or 2 year
manufacturer’s
warranty
There will always be pricing extremes on the low and
high spectrum, so it’s wise to get a couple opinions.
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Hearing Aids
