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TECHNOLOGIES

Digital Vs Analog
Digital cameras, digital televisions, digital telephones, digital sounds… The word “digital” is used more frequently with all kinds of products. But what is digital? Is it really as great as they say?

Analog or digital- what’s the difference?
If you’ve read or heard about hearing aids, you may have noted that there are two types: analog and digital. Analog technology is the conventional way of treating sound, digital technology is the most modern way. The first digital hearing aids were introduced by Oticon in 1996. Most people agree that digital technology has done wonders for the quality of video films (digital VCRs, camcorders, and DVD) and also for music (Compact Disk and Minidisk). But the question is, what does digital do for the hearing aids?

The Basics
All hearing aids have a number of features in common. The sound enters through a microphone, it is then treated and amplified, and then finally it is delivered to a receiver (loudspeaker). If the hearing aid is placed inside the ear, the receiver sends the sound directly into your ear canal. If the hearing aid is placed behind your ear, the sound travels via a small tube to an earmold and is then delivered into the ear canal.

In analog hearing aids, the original sound signal is treated electronically, with the aid of miniature circuitry. The disadvantage of analog is that the more you want to process the signal, the more circuitry you need. With each additional piece of circuitry the risk of creating noise and distortion increases. However, in digital hearing aids, the sound is converted into digits (0.1) for processing- just like in a computer. As soon as it’s been processed, it’s reconverted to an analog acoustic signal that you can hear. Digital technology allows us to manipulate the sound, over and over again, without affecting the overall quality.

Analog sound processing
Sound waves are vibrations in the air. In analog hearing aids, these vibrations are picked up by a microphone and then transforms the movements into a single, yet complex electrical current. Analog sound is similar to making a photocopy. The sound is registered, and then you get an overall picture. But processing sound this way is like copying a photocopy- it can only be done to a certain extent, because the quality of the original imprint is significantly reduced.

Digital sound processing
Digital sound processing is totally different. Once again, a microphone picks up the sound, but now it’s transformed into mathematical units. The signal is then divided into many small parts, the pitch and the volume can be measured at any given moment in time. This method is much more precise. It gives us the freedom to change certain details, without disturbing the rest of the picture. And because a digital signal is more robust than an analog signal, it can be shaped and reshaped accurately and endlessly, without affecting the overall quality. It’s like making copies of a digitally scanned image - each copy is a perfect duplicate of the original.

The advantages of digital technology
Compared to analog hearing aids, digital hearing aids provide dramatically improved sound quality. They can be tailor-made to suit people’s individual hearing loss and listening requirements. They are also designed to make communication easier. Speech is complex signal to process, but digital technology treats the signal very gently- without adding unwanted elements- so the speech stays crisper and clearer than with analog processing. Today, digital technology is an integral part of everyday life. You probably already have a variety of digital products in your household- maybe, without even knowing it. Telephones, video recorders and stereos are mostly digital. So are the computers that have been influencing our daily lives, both at work and at home, for the past 10-15 years. Thanks to miniaturization techniques, this same technology can now be squeezed into amazingly small hearing aids. Digital technology in hearing aids provide excellent sound quality and ease of use that makes the listening experience more natural and more enjoyable than ever before.

The preceeding information courtesy of Oticon


STYLE

Today’s hearing instruments come in four basic styles. Instruments do exist that are slight variations of these four styles. Style must not be confused with technology. Style refers to what the instrument looks like and technology refers to how the instrument processes sound. Any technology can be housed in any style.

Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
This style represents the smallest instrument available today. It is contained entirely within the ear canal. CIC instruments are hardly visible and therefore are often chosen based on their cosmetic appeal. They also maintain the ear’s natural amplification function by keeping the concha (bowl of the outer ear) free of material. A patient’s ear canal must be large enough to accommodate the components necessary to build the instrument. CIC instruments take a very small battery necessitating good manual dexterity and eyesight.
Many features or options available with a larger instrument may not be available due to size constraints. CIC instruments are suitable for individuals with a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss.

In-The-Canal (ITC)
Slightly larger than the CIC, this style sits in the ear canal and somewhat in the concha. Battery size is slightly larger than that of the CIC and therefore will last longer before needing to be changed. ITC insturments can often accommodate a greater array of features due to larger size. They are suitable for individuals with a mild to moderate degree of hearing loss.

In-The-Ear (ITE)
The ITE instrument will fill the entire concha area. Their larger size allows for a larger battery and can accommodate more features. An individual a with mild to severe degree of loss can be fit with ITE instruments. Often times they are easier to handle if manual dexterity or eyesight are issues for the individual.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
The BTE consists of two parts, a custom made earmold and the hearing instrument itself. The earmold is custom fit to the individual, made of a soft or hard plastic and fits into the ear (concha and canal). It helps with retention of the aid on the head and directs the amplified sound from the hearing instrument into the ear. The hearing instrument sits behind the ear and is connected to the earmold via a clear, small diameter tubing. This style is available in many colors, from a variety of skin and hair tone colors to many vibrant “fun” colors, for both
the hearing instrument and earmold. Depending on colors chosen, BTE instruments can be barley visible or be highly visible depending on the desired effect the wearer wants to achieve. Children often choose fun, bright colors! BTE instruments can accommodate mild to profound degrees of hearing loss. They are best suited for the addition of assistive technologies such as FM.

Open Ear
Open ear products are the latest advancement in amplification. The actual technology is housed in a small case that hides behind the ear, with a clear thin tube that directs sound into the ear canal. Soft domes hold the tube in place and allow both natural and amplified sound to enter the ear. Open ear instruments provide superior cosmetics, comfort, and clarity.



MANUFACTURING PARTNERS

Columbia Hearing Centers has selected four major hearing aid manufacturer’s with which to partner. They are Oticon, Phonak, Sonic Innovations and Starkey. We have chosen these four based on each having demonstrated to us that they have:

  • Quality products that are innovative and reliable
  • A dedication to research and development
  • A complete range of products
  • Good customer and patient support
  • Patient support materials and resources available
  • Contributed to good patient outcomes for our own patients
Below you will find direct links to our partner’s web sites. We encourage you to visit these excellent sites for the wealth of information they offer.