Digital v. Analog

I'm a practicing audiologist and I've found that digital hearing aids are generally far better than analogs. Particularly when it comes to noisy environments.

I'm an experienced wearer, having worn hearing aids for 15 years and owning 4 pairs. For the most part they worked well for me. But a few months ago I was talking to one of my friends and she said that she had switched to digital hearing aids and was loving them. So I decided to give them a try and I'm amazed at how much better they are. I can hear TV shows better and more clear and I'm able to hear my friends better when we're at lunch.

I've been using hearing aids for 27 years and I'm a devout user of analogs. Several times I"ve tried switching to digital aids but I honestly prefer the analog. THey're what I'm used to and I find them to be extremely comfortable. Background noise really doesn't bother me and just turn the captions on for my TV. I don't need nor do I want all the fancy adjustments and different levels for sounds. I find it annoying to have to switch all the time. Plus, digital are far more expensive even if you have insurance.
Right now I"m looking for another company that is still making mini-analog aids since Rexton is no longer making them since they started working with Siemens. My audiologist is having me try digital hearing aids right now and I'm finding that the sound is not comprable to my analogs. The companies aren't making the aids with us in mind, I like simple and find the complex stuff frustration.

I talked with my audi and they said analog won't be around much longer. Already they are difficult to find and soon they won't be made at all anymore.

Most manufacturers are switching all of their products over to digital.

You don't necessarily have to get complex digital aids. The Phonak Extra for example has a much more traditional sound and has a compression scheme that sounds like an analog and is a available at a reasonable price.

hi,
i've been using analog aids for over 20 years and recently my audi gave me digital starkey destiny 1200s to try and i did not like them at all. tomorrow i'm going to try oticon sumo dxs and see how i like them. my advice to you would be to ensure that you have long trial period, like 60 days or so to make sure that you have enough time to get a feel for them before you buy them. i think digitals are good but i don't think they're fore everybody. i didn't like the many adjustments that had to be made to the destinys i tried and i found the lack of consitency frustrating. the sounds would waver, causing lack of clarity or loud high pitches that were almost painful. i like oticon a lot and would choose it above any other brand but i'm open minded to other ideas and opinions. i have found oticons to last the longest for me though.
nancy

I've been wearing analog aids for almost my whole life and only swithced to digitals 6 years ago when I started wearing Oticon DigiFocus aids. Of all the hearing aids I have worn, they have lasted the longest and have been the most functional for me.

If you're thinking about swithcing to digital I would definitely try a few different aids. My previous analogs were Oticon 44s and I believe that my brain has become used to the sound of Oticon aids. Switching brands my be a more difficult adjustment for you.

This a very common quesiton. The truth is, that digital hearing aids are indeed much better. They produce a more clear speech signal and are much better in situations that have a lot of background noise than analog hearing aids. However, they are not necessarily for everyone. If your audiologist thinks that digitals are for everyone then I would suggest trying to find a different audiologist because serving you best is obviously not their primary objective. About 20% of people do not prefer to switch over to digital and you could be part of that 20% which is absolutely fine. Don't let your audiologist tell you different.

I'd have to disagree with you. I think that if the hearing aid is programmed right then EVERYONE can benefit from digital aids. The kind of aids that I am fitting have programming algorithms specificly designed for previous analog users. Digital aids are able to stimulated the analog sound if the patient desires or needs that. Some dispensers make the mistake of fitting the digital aids using the default options of the factory and don't have the skill required to program the aids for specially for the patients.

I have a Phonak Extra and I do not think that it sounds just like an analog. I have been wearing aids since I was four and have always worn analog aids. I'm now 36 and I'm desperately trying to become accustomed to digital aids since analogs are going away. Manufacturers and the audiologists I have talked to all claim that digital technology is better. Though this may be true, better technology does not necessarily mean that everything is better. I recognize that I might be one of those few people who are unable to get used to digital technology but I feel that my needs should be met as well as those who can adjust. Honestly, I cannot hear as well as when I had analog aids, I miss out on parts of conversation and find analogs to be far more comfortable. When did dispensers become the ones who know whats best for me, the customer? I almost feel that my career is on the line because I can't hear what is happening in everyday settings. I do very well with analogs but I'm having difficulty with digitals at work and at home.

A digital aid can emulate ANY sound. You just have to make sure that theres enough resolution for the ADCs and a high enough sample rate.
A digital system can emulate as system made of tubes and valves.

Digital is only a form of technology and yes it is better. The sound the people hear through the aid whether it be digital or analog is in fact analog. The microphone converts the sound into an analog signal and the receiver converts the electronic signal back into analog sound. The aids aren't actually putting out a digital sound, everyone is hearing in analog.

I found it difficult to switch to digital aids and feel comfortable. It took quite a few adjustments, more than I was expecting but it was definitely worth it. I hear so much better now and the speech recognition is improvement has made a world of a difference/

Digital aids are extremely flexible and programmable and will be ready to be used in a wide range of different type of settings. The best digital hearing aids can be set to function in several frequency bands and have increased & enhanced processes. There are lots of extra add-on features readily available for these types of digital aids such as for example feedback reduction, noise reduction, speech enhancement, sound generation & directional microphone. Analog hearing instruments amplify the sound wave by simply making it larger. They use transistors in a circuit to amplify and modify the incoming sound. Any changes to the sound of the hearing aid are made with the volume control, small trimmers to adjust the response. Thanks a lot.

According to me Digital hearing aids are one of the best hearing machines. In today's date digital hearing aids are coming with bluetooth and wireless technologies also. I keep myself updated from www.hearingaidsdelhi.com. All brands under one roof.