To many people, the term "digital age" has meant easier communication through the use of cell phones, wireless connectivity to MP3 players and high-definition television. To people who are hearing-impaired, the term takes on an entirely different meaning with the advent of digital hearing aids. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASLHA), digital hearing aids have been in existence since 1987, but the different types of digital hearing aids have proliferated in the new millennium. People who have worn both analogue and digital hearing aids may notice several advantages when using digital sound processing (DSP).
Feedback Reduction
The reduction of both feedback and background noise is a clear advantage of a digital hearing aid over older, analogue models, says the Royal National Institute of Deaf People (RNID), a UK-based organization. Feedback management systems may limit the amount of whistling or high-pitched whines that a wearer may hear, as well as ambient noise in a crowded restaurant or on the street. The ASLHA calls this phenomenon digital feedback reduction, or DFR.
Self-Adjusting Microphones
Many digital hearing aid models are equipped with a self-adjusting volume and filtering feature that helps the wearer focus on the sounds he wants to hear. Directional microphones in digital hearing aids are used to perform this function, but some hearing aids do not even require the wearer to adjust the microphone settings. The digital processing allows the aid to sense the needs of the wearer as well as the volume, and adjusts itself accordingly.
Speech Enhancement Feature
Newer digital hearing aids may have a speech enhancement feature that can amplify and enhance speech so that the wearer can hear more comfortably. Called digital speech enhancement (DSE), the ASLHA explains that this technology can intensify parts of speech without amplifying other noises around the wearer.
