When it comes to choosing a hearing aid, you will be confronted with one main decision
and that is whether you buy a digital hearing aid or whether you buy an analogue one. Although both do exactly the same thing, its the way in which is does it that is the main difference. Although digital is the new trend and starting to take over the market, there is still a place for analogue devices.
The most obvious difference between the two is the price. Digital is a lot more expensive and although the great demand has reduced the price significantly, it can still be 50 to 75% more expensive than an analogue hearing aid.
The way a hearing device works is that it simply amplifies the sound waves in your environment to enable you to hear what would otherwise be inaudible. While the older devices really gave millions of people the ability to hear again, it was quite a rudimentary device and lacked the sophistication that the new technology is bringing to the table.
Analogue devices were riddled with issues. One key problem was the fact that different environments had vastly different sound qualities and traditions from the one to the other often left the user with disturbingly loud noises and constantly tuning the device. Digital hearing aids work with a microprocessor which means that its like a little computer and its capable of adjusting itself. Not only is is much more advanced, but its smart and basically works with very little manual input from the user.
More than anything else, users claim that the sound quality of a digital device is vastly better and many of the advanced features like blue-tooth compatibility with mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices.