What’s the Importance of Sound Quality of Hearing Aids?

The sound quality of a hearing aid is the quality of the sound it hears, reflecting the objective level of its sound output. The sound quality of hearing aids, as we often refer to it, is actually whether they achieve "high fidelity" in the sound processing process. Only sound that is closer to natural listening can ensure the optimal clarity.

What are the factors affecting the sound quality of hearing aids?

1. Compression technology

Hearing aid compression technology can be divided into fast and slow compression technologies, each with its own advantages. Slow compression technology is more conducive to better linear language restoration, with strong contrast and high clarity of language signals. However, fast compression is necessary. So some products use a combination of fast and slow compression technology that automatically processes speech situations: a sound stabilizer.

2. Nonlinear distortion of hearing aids

This includes distortion caused by digital processing technology, distortion caused by nonlinear amplification, and distortion caused by certain noise reduction processes. Adopting "high sampling rate" analog-to-digital conversion can reduce the distortion of hearing aid sound; High bit analog-to-digital conversion can reduce distortion caused by loud input.

3. Response speed of hearing aids

Slow response speed causes the sound soft and weak, which is prone to echoes. People with good bone conduction or low-frequency feel more pronounced. Generally speaking, the low-frequency response speed of sound is slower than the high-frequency response speed. So some hearing aid users with good low-frequency hearing and high frequency difference are more likely to feel a sense of echo, resulting in unclean and unclear sound.

4. Frequency response range of hearing aids

We know that the frequency range that can be heard by the normal human ear is 20Hz-20KHz, and the frequency range of speech is 200Hz-8KHz. The wider the frequency response of a hearing aid, the less likely it is to feel the horn sound, and the more natural and realistic the sound. Some high-end hearing aids can output a frequency response curve of up to 7000Hz.

5. Background noise of hearing aids

Background noise has a significant impact on users with good hearing or some frequencies, with some high-end hearing aids having background noise as low as 14dB. At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between environmental noise and background noise. For example, some high-end hearing aids have a compression threshold as low as 20dB, and low sound amplification is sufficient. However, normal people may sound very noisy and feel like noise.