Digital Hearing Aids

Digital hearing aids are increasingly popular, as they present a more modern and advanced alternative to analogue hearing aids. Digital and analogue hearing aids differ in the way they process and amplify sound; although analogue hearing aids work effectively, digital hearing aids are often preferred because they are more sophisticated and they offer you greater advantages in terms of the quality of the sound and often, the design of the hearing aids.

Digital hearing aids convert sound waves into digital signals, which produces a copy of each sound, as well as an amplified version. A digital hearing aid contains a tiny microchip, which is programmed to filter sounds and choose which sounds to amplify; this means that in a crowded room, you will still be able to hear the person you are talking to clearly. Digital hearing aids can also be customised and you can set programmes for different scenarios; this means that your hearing aid will enable you to hear as well in a noisy train station as a quiet library.


Analogue hearing aids work on a constant basis to catch and amplify sound waves; more modern analogue aids can be programmed to work in different settings, including noisy and quiet places. Analogue hearing aids are generally significantly cheaper than digital aids and some people who have used an analogue aid for a long period of time prefer to stick with what they know, rather than switching to digital.

In the past, digital hearing aids were only available from private dispensers; however, they are becoming increasingly commonplace on the NHS. If you would prefer a digital hearing aid, it may be worth researching which kinds of hearing aid are available from your local NHS provider, as well as looking into private digital hearing aids.

If you do wish to invest in a digital hearing aid, it's important to buy from a trusted an approved provider; never be tempted by online discounts or special offers, as all hearing aids should be customised and fitted properly by trained audiologists.

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