DIY Digital Hearing Aid

Digital hearing aids offer the ability to control how you process sound internally. Digital hearing aids are programmed to match each patient's specific hearing needs. While hearing-aid clinics have software and equipment, supplied by hearing aid manufacturers, to connect and adjust the internal responses of each hearing aid, this programming process has become available for patients to use at home. Do-it-yourself digital hearing aids come with everything you need to fit, program and adjust your own hearing aids on your home computer.

Digital History

• Digital hearing aids became popular because more people preferred the improved sound quality and clarity offered by digital circuits. Many previous users of analog-circuit hearing aids noticed great improvement in their comfort and hearing after upgrading to digital technology.

  Most hearing aids sold are fitted by hearing health-care providers; the patient wears his hearing aids home and returns to the clinic within a week for adjustments. Some people require numerous adjustments before they’re comfortable with their hearing aids. All that driving and waiting for hearing aids on which you just spent $5000 can become very frustrating, thus spurring the invention of do-it-yourself digital hearing aids.

Prior to Ordering

• Order do-it-yourself digital hearing aids by mail at a fraction of the cost charged by hearing-aid clinics. You will need a current hearing test (audiogram) to program your hearing aids at home. If you plan to order completely in-the-canal hearing-aids, send the manufacturer an impression of your ear. A local hearing-aid clinic can supply you with a copy of your audiogram and an ear impression if needed—you may need to pay a small fee for these services.

At Home Programming

• When you receive your hearing aids, programming software and programming connection device, read the included literature first. Before putting batteries in the hearing -aid, try it on. Practice putting it in and taking it out, and get comfortable with the fit and style. You’ll have to put batteries in before you can program the hearing aids. Once you've downloaded the software, attach the USB programming device to your computer. Hook the hearing aids to your computer via the programming device. Enter your complete audiogram when the software prompts you to. The hearing aid can only adjust itself according to the information you've entered. If you enter inaccurate or incomplete information, your hearing aid won’t perform well for you. Do-it-yourself hearing-aid manufacturers offer online support, customer service, money-back guarantees and programming assistance; take advantage of these services to get the greatest benefit from your digital hearing aids.