Compare Hearing Aid Features
You can use this table to compare the feature names from major hearing aid manufacturers like Audibel, Oticon, MicroTech, NuEar, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Siemens / Signia, Starkey and Widex. If you would like to compare various model names and relative prices, click here. The generic name for the feature is followed by a brief description of the function and benefits of the feature. The last column lists the various names manufacturers use for the feature.| Feature | What it Does | Manufacturer Names for this Feature |
| Auto Program Switching | Based on the incoming sounds, the hearing aid processor automatically selects from a series of pre-configured listening programs to adapt to your environment. For example, it would automatically switch from speech, speech in noise, music programs, outdoor mode, etc. | Life Learning, Flex Control, Everyday Auto, Softswitching, SmartFocus, IE Program Shift |
| Auto Feedback Control | Virtually eliminates high-pitched squealing from sound coming from the hearing aid speaker or receiver back into the hearing aid microphones. Improves listening experience in environments with reflective surfaces that tend to produce echos (e.g. worship centers, auditoriums, etc.) | Feedback Cancelation, Feedback Shield, Echo Block, Digital Feedback Control, Feedback Preventer, Feedback Eliminator |
| Auto Noise Management | Automatically adjusts hearing aids to provide better understanding of speech in noise. Reduces uncomfortable background noise such as traffic or the constant hum of a ceiling fan without affecting your ability to understand. | Active Noise Control, Everyday Automatic, Binaural Noise Management, SoundRelax, Noise Block, Auto Noise Reduction, Auto Noise Management, Noise Reduction SIS |
| Auto Focus on Speech | Automatically chooses the direction of your hearing focus based on where the hearing aid processor detects speech. Gives you a solution to challenging listening situations where you cannot face the speaker such as while driving. Other options give more priority to the forward microphones versus rear microphones when you are able to face the speaker. | Directionality, Free Focus, Auto Stereo Zoom, AutoScope, Directionality, HD Directionality, Auto Focus, Auto Speech Focus, InVision Directionality, Pinna Effect, Digital Pinna |
| Auto Detect Loudest Speech | Automatically extracts the single voice you want to hear from a noisy crowd allowing you to focus on the voice you want to hear. | Speech Locator, Speech Guard, Auto Zoom Control, Binaural Environmental Optimizer, Sound Locator, Directional Speech Enhancement, HD Locator, Speech Enhancer |
| Auto Volume Control | Individualizes volume control based on your personal hearing loss that makes sounds louder and softer suited to your needs. Automatically increases the amplification level based on the processor learning how you adjust the volume in different situations. | Self Learning, Flex Volume, Soft Level Focus, Self Learning, IE Volume Control |
| Sudden Noise Protection | Softens sudden annoying loud sounds such as plates crashing, dogs barking, etc. | UltraZoom, NoiseTracker, Sound Smoothing, Antishock, TruSound Softener |
| Wind Noise Management | Suppresses wind noise. Enhances ability to understand speech well, even when the wind is blowing. Particularly useful for those who spend a good deal of time outdoors. | Speech in Wind, Wind Guard, Wind Noise Manager, eWindscreen |
| Auto Frequency Adjust | Restores high-frequency hearing buy adjusting the frequency of sounds that are physically impossible for you to hear even with amplification down to a lower frequency where you are able to hear them. Enjoy the everyday sounds around you that enrich your life. | Active Frequency Control, Sound Recover, HD Bandwidth, Sound Radiance, Extended Bandwidth, Sound Brilliance, Spectral, Personal Audibility Extender |
| Anti-Whistle | Eliminates or reduces feedback whistling at high volume levels in addition to other anti-feedback programming. | WhistleBlock, Whistle Control |
| Aid-to-Aid Communication | Gives you the ability to synchronize the processors when wearing a pair of hearing aids and allows you to control both hearing aids with one touch. | Ear-to-Ear Wireless, Binaural Synchronization, QuickSync, DuoPhone, Synchronized Volume Control, Wireless Assistant, e2e wireless, DuoLink,InterEar |
| Tinnitus Management | Noise generator that creates sounds at a particular frequency that cancels out “ringing-in-the-ears” that occurs with some people. This feature does not cure tinnitus, but helps alleviate it when wearing hearing aids. | Tinnitus Control, Tinnitus Masker, Tinnitus Balance |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | The latest generations of hearing aids allow you to stream calls, music and other media wirelessly from your devices and allow you to control certain settings like volume, programs and directionality directly from smartphones without an external device. Older hearing aids require the use of an external “bridging device” worn on the body to allow bluetooth streaming. |