Three Tier Approach To Hearing Aids TIER 1 HEARING AIDS (VERY GOOD) STANDARD CONVENTIONAL ANALOG INSTRUMENTS Features: Single channel signal processing Manual volume control Not computer programmable, but potentiometers can be adjusted manually Good sound quality. Better than standard hearing aids of even 10 years ago. Available in all sizes from the behind-the-ear (BTE) size all the way down to the smallest Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) size Designed for: Those whose main concern is hearing spouse or children Those with a less active life style Those with good word understanding but sesitivity to loud sounds Those not greatly challenged by difficult listening situations TIER 2 HEARING AIDS (EVEN BETTER) DIGITALLY PROGRAMMABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE AND ADVANCED ANALOG SIGNAL PROCESSING Features: One or two signal processing channels Better sound quality Signal Processing is much more adjustable than Tier 1 hearing aids to more accurately meet patient needs Available with up to 3 patient selectable program memories for different listening environments Totally Automatic Volume Control (no volume control knob needed) Some models available with handy remote control to change program memories, volume, etc. Can be Digitally Programmed by computer right in the office while you wait Hearing aid programming can be changed if patient's hearing changes in the future Available in all sizes from the behind-the-ear (BTE) size all the way down to the smallest Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) size Designed for: More socially active individuals Those with poorer speech understanding, especially in noisy environments Those who desire the advantages of custom in-office digital programming of hearing aid(s) Those who desire the ease and convenience of automatic volume control Those with changing listening conditions that would benefit from multiple listening programs Those who desire more advanced signal processing capability Those who need a clearer, more carefully shaped output signal due to greater hearing needs Those who desire one of the hearing aids that offers a hand-held remote control for individual adjustments *With increasing technological advances in 100% digital computer chips, the cost of fully digital circuits has dropped substantially. As a consequence, most manufacturers will be reducing or eliminating their Tier 2 Programmable products and replacing them with entry level Tier 3 100% Digital Products. TIER 3 HEARING AIDS (THE VERY BEST) 100% DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING, FULLY AUTOMATIC OPERATION, SPECIAL BUILT-IN SPEECH RECOGNITION ALGORITHMS, SPECIAL SOUND COMPRESSION TECHNOLOGY, MOST ACCURATE COMPUTER-PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE, EXTREMELY FAST ACTING "ATTACK AND RELEASE" TIMES FOR BEST WORD RECOGNITION PERFORMANCE IN ALL LISTENING ENVIRONMENTS. AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK "WHISTLE" CANCELLATION FEATURE. Features: 100% Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for the most distortion free signal of all hearing aids The best sound quality available in a hearing instrument Multiple (up to 16) sound signal processing channels Virtual real time signal processing Special noise handling algorithms Dual, patient-selectable, listening programs available Fully automatic colume control (no patient volume control needed) Reprogrammable at any time to meet changing patient needs World's most advanced computer microchip-controlled hearing instruments Most sophisticated sound signal processing available in any hearing aid Some models "listen" for feedback and automatically cancel it before it can become noticeable to the patient or anyone else Automatic, adaptive directional microphone technology Available in all sizes from the behind-the-ear (BTE) size all the way down to the smallest Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) size Designed for: Those who desire the most advanced signal processing and best sound quality Those with more active lifestyles and frequently changing listening environments Those who want or need maximum speech intelligibility in noisy or challenging listening environments Those not satisfied with the sound quality or performance of less sophisticated analog hearing aids Those with the most difficult to fit audiometric hearing loss configurations Those with the steepest sloping or greatly varying hearing losses across frequency ranges Those who desire the convenience of completely automatic instrument control Those who routinely operate in challenging listening environments who would benefit from multiple specialized programmable listening programs Those who desire the advantages of custom in-office computer programming ability Those who desire or need the most sophisticated technology in a hearing instrument