/precisehearing_ad_top_jpg_12905.jpg)
More channels better?
Tue, 06/22/2010 - 05:58
I'm currently trialling the Sonic Touch 6 and I found the sound very natural and I'm hearing many more things that I was previously missing. While the main areas have improved I still have problems hearing in large groups of people around the table, soft speaking or a whisper, and people in the back seat of the car. Am I expecting too much from a HA or is the problem that a 6 channel aid is not enough for my requirements? Does it just need more adjustment or should I look into the Touch 12?
Does having an aid with more channels generally result in better hearing?
There are three types of 'channels'.
Compression channels: these are frequency specific processing channels to correct your hearing loss. Four fairly wide channels will generally suffice for most people. More than 16 or 20 channels can actually reduce the benefit by splitting up speech fragments too much and reducing speech comprehension.
Frequency equaliser bands: these don't have any special processing attached, they allow an accurate profile of your frequency response to be set up. 4 - 20 or more can be found. 16 is definitely enough!
Noise reduction bands: these are used by noise removal software, often along with directional mikes. 16, 20, 32, the more the better.
Often a hearing aid will combine all three. A 16 channel aid would also have 16 gain adjusters and 16 noise cancellation channels.
For most users a 6 channel aid might sound as good as a 20 channel aid, the 20 channel aid may do better in noisy environments.