title: Hearing instruments: a look into the future.
abstract: The paper initially gives an overview of the developments in hearing aid technology today. The advantages of digital signal processing are then discussed followed by the features of two head-worn instruments with digital signal processing, which will soon be commercially available. The concept of 'real' binaural interactive signal processing is described next. This strategy offers innovative possibilities to improve the communication abilities of hearing-impaired persons in noisy environments. This type of hearing instrument presently evaluated by research groups and hearing aid manufacturers will be introduced on the market in a couple of years. Digital processing in hearing instruments will open a new dimension in hearing aid technology provided the benefit for the hearing aid user can be increased significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans