All hearing aids consist of the same three basic parts: a microphone, which picks up sounds in your environment; a processor, which amplifies the sound to the exact specifications your hearing loss requires; and a receiver, which delivers sound to your ears. These parts work together to help you hear well.
Though every hearing aid contains these components, not all hearing aids are created equal. Basic hearing aids will provide you with better hearing, but advanced hearing aids offer additional features that can improve your quality of life in other ways. We review the differences between these two tiers below.
What Can Basic Hearing Aids Do?
Basic hearing aids are, for the most part, operated manually. This means they have physical buttons on them that you press when you need to adjust the volume or switch between programs.
These hearing aids offer less in terms of customization, though they can still be programmed to meet your hearing needs.
Many basic hearing aids offer directional microphones: one set that picks up sounds in front of you, and another set that picks up sounds around you. This can help you focus on your conversation partner at Café Pasqual’s on Don Gaspar Avenue while being aware of your surroundings.
Basic hearing aids do offer some wireless options, usually telecoils and FM system compatibility.
What Can Advanced Hearing Aids Do?
Advanced hearing aids are more automatic than their basic counterparts. Some advanced hearing aids even offer a geotagging feature, so they can remember what settings you prefer in different places and automatically adjust to that preferred program.
Not only do advanced hearing aids offer directional microphones, but these microphones can amplify speech sounds while reducing distracting background noise.
Additionally, advanced hearing aids offer telecoil and FM system compatibility as well as Bluetooth connectivity, so you can connect to all your favorite devices.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Southwestern Hearing & Balance today!