Good hearing aid machine recommendation.

My mother is about 82 years. For her also doctor suggested hearing aid. We have spent Rs,50,000/- and purchased two non-digital hearing aids. But she is never comfortable with those hearing aids When she used them she used to feel a lot of disturbance in the ear and she couldn't withstand that disturbance. We thought digital hearing aids may work better for her. Then we have approached a known ENT specialist and discussed with him. As per him whether it is Digital or Analog type, there will not be any difference in the performance.
Analog and digital hearing aids will have similar components. They will amplify sound waves for the tiny hair cells in the ear to pick up. Both will use a microphone. Bith will rely on circuitry to amplify sound. They run on batteries. They use a receiver to deliver sound to the ear. The difference between them is the method of amplifying the sound.
The main difference between the two types of hearing aids is cost. Digital hearing aids will cost more. Please ask your audiologist to tell you and discuss with some known persons also and then take a decision. It is very difficult for people who are above 80 years to get adjusted with these hearing aids.

I would suggest you to buy digital hearing aid as one of my family member using a non-digital hearing aid. His age is above than 80 years. But, he doesn't feel comfortable with that machine. He bought the non-digital hearing machine in approx 50,000 rupees. When we tried to find out the difference between digital and non-digital. Then, some person told that both are almost same regarding function. Both will amplify sound. Both will run on battery. The major difference between the two is costs. Digital hearing aid machine is more costly than non -digital. If you want to have more query regarding this two machine. So, you should consult the audiologist.

Analog hearing aids can provide uninterrupted sound to the users having hearing impairment due to various health issues. It consists of an electronic component and a microphone picking up sound and an amplification circuit which is responsible for making a sound louder. Receiver is capable of delivering high sound of a high pitch to the ear canal provided the battery set is efficient enough to power the entire circuit. Selection of the same would depend upon the degree of impairment of hearing loss. It is equipped with a button which can alter the sound suiting to the environment.
Digital hearing aids consist of all the features of analog programming aid. However these aids would change the sound waves to the digital signals. This type of aids allows for more complex process and hence a better performance of sound can be achieved with less background noise. These equipments are costlier because of multiple programme memories and hence these type of aids are in greater demand these days.

Both Analog and digital hearing aids do the same work. Both amplify sound waves. Analog type of hearing aids makes sound waves louder. They amplify sound waves in a continuous manner. Nowadays these Analog hearing aids are coming with microchip for storing programme settings.

In digital hearing aid sound waves are converted to digital signals. It gives more clear sound.

Use of electronic signal and microphone is the same on both Analog and digital hearing aids. The main difference is cost and advanced technology. The cost of digital hearing aids is higher than the Analog one.

There are several good brands of digital hearing aids available in the market. Some of them are :
1. Starkey
2. Signia
3. Siemens
4. Windex

Initially, no hearing aids is comfortable, but frequent use makes it comfortable, especially, in case of Analog hearing aid, longer use of this hearing aids gives more comfort in the sound quality. But digital hearing aid filter out background noise more effectively. Hence, you can choose any of the hearing aid after the consultation of an audiologist.

There are many brands and many types of hearing aids machine are available in the market. The cheaper local assembled versions are available within Rs 10000 also but they do not have quality of sound and uniform amplifications at different audible ranges. That is why an audiogram is taken for the purpose of finding out at which frequencies the deterioration is more so that the haring aid can be designed in that fashion. I will advise you to go for a branded hearing aid only. Due to digital technologies there is much noise reduction in the modern hearing aids and it would be advisable to go for the digital one. Some of the good brands are Oticon, Resound, Widex, Phonak, Unitron, Interton, Sivantos, Starkey, Bernafon, Beltone, Rexton etc. A good hearing aid would have at least a price tag of Rs 30000 and it would be more for better and better performing ones.

Due to miniaturisation technologies, these devices come in many sizes and due to cosmetic reasons some people will like to go for small invisible sizes also. The cost of these sophisticated devices will also be on higher side. Some of the common types are Behind the ear, Receiver-in-the-canal, In the ear, In the canal, Completely in the canal, Invisible in the canal etc. So, one has to choose the design suiting to ones choice. One thing which is to be confirmed with the supplier is that it should be tested properly while in the customers ear so that the customer is satisfied by the performance. If there is some echo or reverberating sound then the hearing aid machine has to be tuned to the proper frequencies to overcome that problem.

Your audiogram shows that you have severe hearing loss in the right ear and moderate one in the left but if you see the frequency wise loss then there is more pronounced loss in the left ear towards high frequencies and moderate one towards the low frequencies. So, the hearing aid will be designed in that fashion only. Now it will also depend as for which ear you want the machine as the response of the two ears in the audiometry test is wide apart. So your doctor will suggest for which ear you should go. Of course one can go for both the ears also.

Can any of the experts suggest a good digital model machine based on the audiology report attached as most of the analog machines are just controlled by a volume button mechanism and that is very uncomfortable?

There are many qualities of a digital ear machine which is very helpful. This machine is small in size and offers many features that are easy for the user. The sound quality in these is also better than others as well as reduces the noise of the background coming from outside. Nowadays the system of the remote control makes it easy to use and can be changed quickly depending on the surrounding noise or sound. There is also an automatic mechanism for changing programs. After using the machine throughout the day, it can be easily charged, after charging at night you can use it for the next day. The dehumidifier is also arranged in these devices nowadays.

Axon hearing aid
Siemens Digital Hearing Aids.
Siemens Ear Machine.
Receiver AM
Hearing Machine-Signia
Smart Care Digital Hearing Aids
Beurer hearing amplifier HA 20