People with impaired hearing wouldn’t do without their hearing aids. They are small, lightweight devices designed to improve the effects of impaired hearing.People who wear hearing aids have no problem doing so, since they fit the ears in many convenient ways. Analog and digital technologies are both used to make hearing aids. So which type of hearing aid is right for you? The initial technology for creating hearing aids was analog. Simply put, analog hearing aids make noises louder by making sound waves bigger. While the volume is turned up, picking out certain sounds is not a simple task with analog technology. With analog devices, the more you pay the stronger your hearing aid will be. Keep in mind that one of the drawbacks of analog devices is a whistling noise that can occur with amplified sounds. Digital hearing aids, or “digital sound processors (DSP)”, are little computers designed for processing complex sounds in different situations. Digital hearing aids can take out distracting background sounds using a computer program. Now, with digital technology, the hearing impaired can adjust their device for the setting they are in, for example a peaceful park versus a crowded train station. Some DSP devices are equipped with a directional microphone, which can follow specific sounds, such as voices. Also, whistling is far less common with digital technology than it is with analog, making it easier on the ears. While it’s true that most digital hearing aids are more expensive than analog, the benefits often outweigh the cost. DSP hearing aids are equipped with all the latest gadgets, from microphones and remote controls, to telephone adapters and Bluetooth technology. This just comes as a bonus, since digital hearing aid wearers have the ability to change their listening channels for different settings. Digital hearing aids quite often give their users more than one channel, frequency range and memory to choose from. As with anything, digital hearing aid customers should beware of inexpensive replicas. The flexibility, choices and gadgets make digital hearing aids more desirable to most over analog hearing aids. Consumers are generally happier with their decision to purchase a digital hearing aid than an analog one. A lot of companies that produce hearing aids are abandoning analog technology and making only DSPs. Digital hearing aids come in all shapes and sizes, like half and full shell, in the ear canal, and behind the ear. Don’t get left behind by the digital technology wave – just because you’re comfortable with your analog hearing aid doesn’t mean there isn’t something better! Read on – Digital Hearing Aids