How Do Hearing Aids Work?

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How do hearing aids work for person's with hearing loss? Well today's digital hearing aids are miniature electronic devices that sit in or on the ear, and selectively amplify and process sounds. All hearing aids contain one or more microphones to pick up sound, an amplifier that amplifies and processes sound, a receiver or speaker that sends the signal from the amplifier into your ear, and a battery, or power source. All these components are packaged into various styles to fit people’s cosmetic needs and power requirements.

Digital Hearing Aid Sound Processing

Hearing aids today are digital, meaning incoming signals are converted into a series of numbers, which is then processed using mathematical equations. Digital processing enables very complex manipulation of signals, for example, to separate speech from noise. Many hearing aids today have more processing power than your desktop computer – gone are the days when hearing aids were simple amplifiers. Complex algorithms separate sound into different frequency regions and amplify each region selectively, depending on the wearer’s hearing loss. Algorithms also enable different amounts of amplification for soft, moderate, and loud sounds, so sounds are audible, but loud sounds are not uncomfortable or over amplified. And, digital processing ensures a precise replication of the original signal with minimal distortion, resulting in excellent sound quality for even the most discriminating audiophiles. An interactive model of how digital hearing aids process sound can be seen by visting Healthy Hearing's Quick Guides to Hearing Aids section on Digital Sound Processing.

Programmable Hearing Aids

Today's digital hearing aids are programmable, meaning the amplification and special features can be precisely fine-tuned and adjusted for each hearing aid wearer, using special hearing aid software on a computer. The hearing care professional is able to customize the hearing aids for both the hearing loss and the preferences of the person who wears them.