The impact of digital technology on the selection and fitting of hearing aids

The commercial availability of wearable digital hearing aids begins a new era in hearing aid technology. The impact of the introduction of digital technology extends from differences in hardware configuration to changes in the hearing aid fitting process to improvements in the perceptual experience enjoyed by the hearing-impaired individual. In this article, differences among analog, hybrid, and digital technology are reviewed. Performance differences among these technologies are examined in terms of flexibility, size, power consumption, programmability, and signal processing power. Emphasis is placed on the interdependence of hardware technology, signal processing algorithms, and the fitting procedure. The specific advantages of applying digital technology to fitting procedures are discussed. A number of perceptual and nonperceptual factors for the listener and the need to expand the history-taking process to identify performance-oriented patients are discussed. More rapid and reliable tests of patient preferences and speech intelligibility are needed for digital hearing aid fitting procedures.