Hearing aids are an essential device that can help those with hearing loss to experience sound. The gadget comes in an analogue or digital format, with both using electronic components to amplify sound for the user.

Main components
Both types of hearing aid, analogue and digital, contain semiconductors for the conversion of sound waves to a different medium, and then back to amplified sound waves.

The main components of a hearing aid are the battery, microphone, amplifier, receiver, and digital signal processor or mini-chip.

The battery, unsurprisingly, is the power source of the device. Depending on the type of hearing aid it can be a disposable one or a rechargeable one.

The microphone can be directional, which means it can only pick up sound from a certain direction, which is in front of the hearing aid user. The alternative, omnidirectional microphones, can detect sound coming from all angles.

The amplifier receives signals from the microphone and amplifies it to different levels depending on the user’s hearing.

The receiver gets signals from the amplifier and converts them back into sound signals.

The digital signal processor, also called a mini-chip, is what’s responsible for all of the processes within the hearing aid. The heart of your hearing, if you will.

Chip shortages

The last two years have seen an ongoing crisis which is often discussed, but little understood. The 2020-21 global chip shortage has seen the demand for integrated circuits (semiconductor chips) far outstrip the supply. Over 169 industries have been affected, and this is no less true of the hearing aid and accessories industry.

The reasons for the shortage are multifaceted, and stem from a confluence of different factors. Among these, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the major factor as global lockdowns and other restrictions have meant that chip production facilities have been shut down, which in turn has lead to an overall depletion of stock. Demand has also increased as more and more people have been forced to stay home, and therefore pursue electronic devices as a means to work or for entertainment.

Digital hearing aid advantages
As technology has improved over the years, traditional analogue hearing aids have slowly been replaced by digital versions. Analogue devices would convert the sound waves into electrical signals, that would then be amplified and transmitted to the user. This type of hearing aid, while great for its time, was not the most authentic hearing experience for its users.

The newer digital hearing aid instead converts the signals into numerical codes before amplifying them to different levels and to different pitches depending on the information attached to the numerical signals.

Digital aids can be adjusted more closely to a user’s needs, too, because there is more flexibility within the components within. They often have Bluetooth capabilities too, being able to connect to phones and TVs. There will, however, be an additional cost that comes with the increased complexity and range of abilities.

What does this mean for hearing aid wearers?
Like practically every other industry reliant on electronics, the manufacturers of hearing aids and hearing aid accessories are facing a difficult time. In the short term, the best advice is not to panic: we are still on hand for all of your hearing aid accessory needs. Thankfully, our stock has not suffered too much, so feel free to browse away!

About UCC INDU GmbH

UCC INDU GmbH new established in 2015, is an independent electronic components distributor located in Ladenburg, Germany. As branch of Union Component Technology, UCC INDU GmbH achieved more than 20 years of experience in the market of electronic components purchase, research and development. As trading company, we know no limits to our range of products. UCC INDU GmbH have professional purchase team work with overseas official distributors, Avnet, Arrow, WPG, EBV Elektronik, Rutronik.

UCC will always be right partner for searching common standard product, special products to be procured customer-specifically or difficult bottleneck components. Our core competence is the short-term procurement of stock components as well as parts with long delivery times. We procure and market active, passive and mechanical components worldwide, and secure large stock to maintain clients normal electronic manufacturing services and original equipment productions. Our greatest motivation is to be a solid bridge between leading manufacture factory and European clients, providing them with cost-effective, top quality solutions.