What Are Analog Programmable Hearing Aids?

Analog programmable hearing aids contain a microchip that allows the audiologist or hearing professional to program the settings for different listening environments. The hearing aid may have been programmed for special situations such as a noisy work environment or a quiet home environment.

After the audiologist uses a computer program to personalize the settings of the hearing aid, the user may be able to adjust the settings by remote control or pushing a button pushing a button. They are not self-adjusting like many digital hearing aids.

While most hearing aid users prefer digital hearing aids, some hearing aid users prefer analog programmable hearing aids. Cost is one common reason why people prefer analog hearing aids.

Analog programmable hearing aids have many of the same features as digital hearing aids. The life of an analog programmable hearing aid may be shorter than a digital hearing aid. When programming the hearing aid, the audiologist will consider the type of hearing loss and the person’s tolerance for loud noises.

Conventional analog hearing aids are cheaper than analog programmable hearing aids. Probably due to the popularity of digital hearing aids and their features, many hearing aid manufacturers no longer make analog hearing aids.

Besides cost and differences in features such as automatic self-adjustment, digital and analog programmable hearing aids differ in how sound is processed. Analog programmable hearing aids translate sounds into electrical signals that are amplified.

Digital hearing aids convert sounds to binary code, computer language, that is then amplified. Most digital hearing aids are also programmable to better meet the needs of the individual hearing aid user.

Analog programmable hearing aid technology can be used in behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid styles. An audiologist helps the hearing aid user decide on what type of hearing aid best meets the needs of the hearing aid user.

A decision on hearing aids should not be based completely on price. If a hearing aid user needs a new hearing aid and prefers digital but cannot afford it, they should check for financial assistance. Though Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids for adults, some state agencies and non-profit organizations like Audient Alliance provide financial assistance for the cost of hearing aids.

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