Automatic Volume Control

Almost every digital hearing instrument on the market – including many of the basic models – will automatically adjust the volume for you. It raises the volume for quieter speech, but turns itself down for louder levels (such as traffic). It means that you're not constantly having to fiddle with it.

Automatic Reduction of Background Noise

No doubt about it... we live in a noisy world. The constant barrage of loud sounds can be quite uncomfortable or just downright tiring. Most of today’s mid-range hearing instruments have some ability to reduce background noise, but how well it does it will depend on the level of the technology you decide to use.

The purpose of noise reduction is mainly to make things more comfortable for you, and reduce the "fatigue" that comes from constantly having to listen to louder sounds. Reducing background noise can also make it easier to concentrate, which frees up valuable brain power for better speech understanding.

Directionality or ‘Focusing’ on the Speaker In Front

There are some very good hearing instruments now in the lower mid-range price segment which will automatically reduce sounds that are behind you. This is ideal for a restaurant-type situation where you want to concentrate on the person in front of you. They reduce between background noise behind you by about 40%. Many of the better systems are able to reduce multiple sound sources that are coming from different directions, and constantly adjust themselves if those sound sources move!

Automatic Speech Enhancement

It’s one thing to reduce background noise. It’s another matter altogether to enhance speech! This type of technology is generally only found on the very best ‘top of the range models’, and is more capable of separating out the speech from the background noise than straight forward noise reduction, leaving speech intact or even clearer.

Automatic Situation Detection

Our lives are very often made up of different listening environments. Normal hearing can usually cope with these changes, but a hearing loss compromises our natural ability to adjust. To help overcome this, some hearing systems are able to recognise different types of sounds and automatically adjust their setting to optimise the situation. For example, music is treated differently to speech to give a richer sound.

Automatic Telephone Use

Telephones can be a problem to many users of hearing instruments. Some hearing systems will automatically switch over to a telephone program when a telephone is placed to the ear.

Some hearing technology can now automatically route a mobile phone call to the hearing instrument using bluetooth technology.

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless connectivity allows your two hearing instruments to speak to one another so they can make joint decisions, which is much more in keeping with how the brain uses our two ears. On the simplest level they may simply allow you to adjust one side and have it automatically adjust the other side for you as well, making it far more convenient.

Some manufacturers have taken this even further, using the combined sound to make further improvements, such as your ability to locate where sound is coming from. This improves listening in groups and background noise.

Controlling Sudden Loud Noises

A sudden loud noise can certainly make you jump! But it can also be uncomfortable. Some hearing instruments are able to react so fast, it can catch the sound before you hear it, and soften it – without clamping down on the other sounds you're listening to.

Rechargeable Batteries

There are several very good hearing systems available that automatically recharge themselves overnight. This is great for people with dexterity problems. You take the hearing instruments out of your ears, pop them in the simple-to-use charger and your hearing instruments automatically turn themselves off and recharge over night. Some even recharge using the USB port on a computer!

Bluetooth Connectivity

Bluetooth technology is found nowadays in many mobile phones and other devices. It enables you to connect things to the device without using wires. A simple example is to use hands-free in the car. Several hearing instruments are now able to use a device to turn your hearing aids into a hands-free headset for your mobile phone or MP3 play... even your TV (with the right equipment). This makes everything far more convenient and hassle-free.

Frequency Compression and Frequency Transposition

Sometimes hearing can be damaged to such an extent that you can't hear the high frequencies at all. These pitches of sound are very important for picking up consonants such as /s/ and /t/ and /k/. Without these it's harder in background noise and easier to make mistakes.

Frequency compression and frequency transposition work differently because instead of simply making those frequencies loud (which can result in distortion or discomfort), they shift the sound into a part of your hearing which is more able to make use of the sound.

Imagine you were playing a keyboard but couldn't reach the higher notes because your arms were too short! Frequency transposition is a bit like playing the tune lower down the keyboard where it's easier to reach. Whereas frequency compression is a bit like squashing the keys together to bring them closer to where you can reach.