Digital hearing aids reviews are essential when shopping around for one. Modern hearing aids are a lot more advanced than in the old days, but one still needs to select the right product to suit both needs and pocket. So let's have a look at hearing aids and where they come from.

They have been around since 1500, then in the recent modern times analogue hearing units were used for a long time and now in this digital age, digital hearing units are all the rage.

The first digital units were available in 1987, but the 'DSP' (digital signal processing) technology became available only a decade later, and revolutionized this device making it the 'smart device' in use today. These miniature devices can digitally process sound, allowing them to distinguish between noise and voice, with the capacity to amplify sound and dampen noise.

The digital hearing units are better than the analogue ones, because of a number of technologies, the foremost of which is known as 'Gain processing'. It is through this process that by expanding and compressing specific audio channels, the hearing unit is capable of reducing annoying low-level environmental or background noises, allowing the aid to focus on primary sounds.

Combined with the 'Gain processing' technology is 'DFR' (digital feedback reduction) by which the annoying noises along with feedback from the microphone itself are almost entirely eliminated; 'DSE' ( digital speech enhancement ) technology, helps improve the quality of certain speech segments and 'DNS' ( digital sound reduction ) technology reduces noise reduction that come in the form of low frequencies. Other improvements on the technology are directional microphones, telephone adapters and Bluetooth technology. It is through the combined effects of these technologies, that digital units are able to provide hearing which is both crisp and clear, as opposed to the analogue units.

Before purchasing a digital unit, the first thing is to consult with an audiologist, who can determine the exact problem and best form of hearing aid suited to your needs, because digital aids are not one-size-fits-all products, the inner contour of your ear must be taken into account ensuring a comfortable fit.

And before purchasing a unit, it is advisable not to be led astray by misleading advertisements. In order to discover the pros and cons of the various devices available on the market, one must consult the various digital aids comparisons charts and check on some digital hearing aids reviews, which are easily accessible on the internet. Then again, before buying a unit, a trial period must be asked for as it takes time to adjust to a new unit.

In addition, the buyer has every right to a warranty card, both for the unit and labor because the prices of these digital hearing aids, whether they be 'BTE' (behind the ear) or 'CIC' (complete in the canal) can range from $450 to $4000 - which isn't cheap.

In conclusion, hearing aids can really help improve your quality of life, in that you get back one of the vital five senses. However one must do some research and read up on digital hearing aids reviews prior to purchasing a new one to ensure suitability.