Digital vs. Analog Hearing Aids
What’s the difference? Analog is the basic model, pre-technology, really. It gives a lot of feedback and lacks real clarity of sounds, especially for someone hard of hearing, where the soft or high sounds are routinely missed. Digital is a computer, much more powerful, adaptive and able to capture many light, soft or high sounds. It has a computer and allows you to include directional amplification. For example: Mine has 3 programs, accessed by toggling a small button on the aid - one for normal amplification, two for amplifying just what is in front of you, and killing any sound to the backside and back of you, and finally, three, for use while on the telephone, so you don’t get the high pitched squeal from the aid, when the air passage is blocked. You can also just turn it off - which makes a great ear plug for silence and focus (or to ignore that special someone).
I have 50% hearing loss in my left ear, and 75% in my right. I always had analog, from the age of 6 until the age of 38. I resisted Digital because of the cost ($2000 each, I wear them in both ears), plus I’m too comfortable in my silent world. I read lips very well, which can be great fun for spying, but now that I have digital, I can’t recommend them enough. Night and day compared to analog - I can hear so much more, when I want to, and now see how incredibly much I was missing before. I now hear things I never knew existed and find “new” sounds, at least to me, to be a daily lift in my ever expanding world. People no longer think I am ignoring them, rude, am a loner or just too quiet. I can now join in in conversation and actually know what they are saying to each other.
Music never sounded so sweet, my nieces and nephews so smart, and the sound of the rain so comforting - or terrifying, depending on the strength of it all.
Other than the cost, I have not found any negatives to digital so far, in the two years I have had them. A whole world, that always existed but I never saw, is now open to me. You too.