Analog Programmable Hearing Aids
Analog programmable hearing aids contain microchips that allow them to be programmed to personalized settings for the hearing aid user. An audiologist uses a computer to create settings that match the hearing aid user’s type of hearing loss and typical hearing environments.
After the audiologist uses a computer program to personalize the settings of the hearing aid, the user may be able to adjust the settings by remote control or pushing a button pushing a button. They are not self-adjusting like many digital hearing aids.
Why would someone want an analog programmable hearing aid instead of a digital hearing aid? Analog technology is generally cheaper than digital. Cost is a significant factor in many people’s hearing aid decision.
A new analog programmable hearing aid has many of the same features but may not last quite as long as a digital hearing aid. The type of hearing loss and the person’s tolerance for loud noises may be taken into consideration when programming an analog programmable hearing aid.
An analog programmable hearing aid costs more than a regular analog hearing aid that cannot be programmed. Many hearing aid manufacturers no longer make analog or analog programmable hearing aids. This may be due to the popularity of digital hearing aids and their features.
Besides the differences in cost and features such as self-adjustment of settings, another difference between analog programmable hearing aids and digital hearing aids is how they process sound. Sound is processed by analog hearing aids by converting the sound to electrical signals which are then amplified.
Sound in converted to binary code, the language of computers, and amplified by digital hearing aids. The majority of digital hearing aids are also programmable.
Analog programmable hearing aids are available as behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids. A hearing aid user may receive recommendations from the audiologist about which type of hearing aid would best suit the hearing aid user’s needs.
A decision on hearing aids should not be based completely on price. If a hearing aid user needs a new hearing aid and prefers digital but cannot afford it, they should check for financial assistance. Though Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids for adults, some state agencies and non-profit organizations like Audient Alliance provide financial assistance for the cost of hearing aids.