What is the Difference Between Analog and Digital Hearing Aids?

Hearing loss is a very common phenomenon. Old age, loud noise resulting in cochlear damage, and medications; all of these are potent in causing significant hearing loss. But that should not mean they lead to complete hearing loss that hampers your daily life, relationships, and well-being. Modern hearing aids can efficiently improve the hearing abilities of people with hearing loss, and thus, are a blessing of science!

How does a hearing aid work?

Hearing aids are small, electronic devices designed to amplify sound. A hearing aid has three parts:

1. Microphone: This is the part that receives the sound waves from a source and converts the sound waves into electrical signals or numerical codes (depending on the type of hearing aid). It then sends the signal to the amplifier
2. Amplifier: It increases the strength of the signal, thus making the sound louder
3. Speaker: It sends the sound to your ears

Types of hearing aid

Hearing aids can be worn in more than one way. Depending on their style of wearing, there are various types of hearing aids, such as behind-the-ear (BTE), mini BTE, in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-canal (CIC). It is advised to select a style that is most suitable for you, as hearing aids are something that you should be ideally wearing all the time that you spend awake. The main types of hearing aid, based on their functioning, are analog and digital hearing aids. They both have their own features, along with pros and cons.

What are analog hearing aids?

Analog hearing aids work by converting sound waves into electrical signals. The hearing aid acts continuously in amplifying all sorts of sounds, speech or noise, to the same degree. Thus, it is not so efficient in making the hearing as close to organic as possible. These are programmed uniquely for each person, according to the recommendations made by the audiologist. 

The microchips designed in these hearing aids are made to make sure you can change the program depending on the environment you’re in. That way, you can change the program with the click of a button if you go from a smaller space (like a closed room) to a bigger space (like an auditorium or an amphitheatre).

Analog aids are usually a lot cheaper than the digital ones, but they are also becoming less common because of their limitations.

What are digital hearing aids?

Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into numerical codes that are very similar to the binary codes of a computer. Digital hearing aids have all the functions of analog aids, plus they can also amplify sounds in a way that exactly duplicates the original sound. This is because digital aids can distinguish between speech and noise, as the numerical codes contain information about the pitch or frequency of the sound wave.

Digital aids also provide a wider spectrum of hearing aid programming that can be tuned in accordance with every person’s need in various listening environments. 

The right hearing aid

The choice of the right hearing aid should be made based on a couple of factors. Talk to your audiologist and figure out the correct programming for your ears. Hearing loss is not the same for everyone, and only an audiologist can correctly diagnose you.

Most audiologists suggest a digital aid over an analog aid, as a digital aid does all the work of an analog aid and more. Digital aids are also more flexible in terms of the sound programming that offers you a wide range of programs. Thus, with a digital aid you can tune into programs that let you adjust to the smallest of changes. For instance, you can change the settings when you go from a crowded street to a lesser crowded street.

Although digital aids are costlier than analog aids, they provide a wide range of functions. As hearing aids are something that replaces one of the key senses of your body, it would be wise to spend more money on it. And now with the health ID, you can easily get your hands on a wide range of hearing aids and select the one that best fits your requirements. 

Trial period

It is essential to try on your hearing aid for a few days before settling on it. Try on the style, and see if you’re comfortable wearing it all day. Check if you’re fluent with changing the programs and that the programs fit your hearing loss well.

The correct hearing aid can change your life, and so can the Bajaj Finserv Digital Health EMI Network Card. It is easy, accessible, and lets you pay your medical bills in EMIs that don’t hurt your savings. 

You can not only use the Digital Health EMI Network Card for ear care, but also for dental care, maternity care, and surgeries among other medical procedures and emergencies, as the card comes with a pre-approved limit of up to Rs. 4 lakh.