What do ‘8 channels’ and ’16 channels’ on a digital hearing aid box mean?

Before we understand what “8 channels” and “16 channels” mean, let’s first look at the difference between analog and digital hearing aids.

Analog Hearing Aids
Analog hearing aids consist of a microphone, a speaker, and an amplifier. They amplify all sounds equally without any noise reduction system. Analog hearing aids come in both behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE) styles. They are often a good choice for seniors because they are affordable and accessible.

Digital Hearing Aids
Digital hearing aids also come in both BTE and ITE types. They include a microphone, speaker, amplifier, and computer software that manages sound amplification and delivers high-quality audio to the ear. The internal chip analyzes incoming sounds, distinguishes between speech and background noise, reduces unwanted noise, and adjusts for sudden loud sounds. They can also automatically adapt to various listening environments (such as restaurants, driving, etc.).

Now that we understand analog vs. digital hearing aids, let’s explore the concepts of frequency range and channels.

Frequency Range
The frequency range refers to the software function that audiologists use on a computer or smartphone to “fine-tune” volume levels across different frequency bands. The general frequency range of a hearing aid is from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz.

For example, a hearing aid with three compression channels divides the frequency range into three parts:

• Low frequencies: 250–1,000 Hz

• Mid frequencies: 1,000–3,000 Hz

• High frequencies: 3,000–8,000 Hz

Each frequency band can be adjusted independently.

In theory, the more channels a hearing aid has, the more precisely it can match the user’s audiogram during fine-tuning. If hearing loss is relatively even across frequencies, fewer channels may be sufficient. However, if low-frequency hearing is good but high-frequency hearing is poor, more channels are needed to fine-tune amplification without over- or under-amplifying certain frequencies.

Channels
A “channel” refers to how the hearing aid divides and processes sound signals. Noise reduction and feedback suppression are performed within these channels.

Therefore, when you see “8 channels” or “16 channels” on a digital hearing aid box, it indicates the number of signal processing channels in the device. The more channels it has, the more precise the noise reduction and environmental sound analysis will be — which also affects the price of the hearing aid.