There has long been a call for a better heating aid and thanks to new technology the message has been heard.

Digital programming is being used in hearing aids to make the messages clearer.

It's only been within the past couple of years that hearing aid technology has changed to sample the sound signal nearly a million times a second, almost as fast as a Pentium chip," said Cathy Kurth, director of the Audiology and Hearing Aid Center in Scottsdale.

The center is among a handful in the Valley introducing digitally programmed hearing aids to its patients.

The hearing aids use a small microchip sound processor to store the results of a traditional hearing test.

"After the evaluation, the information is saved on a computer where it is downloaded to the sound processing microchip in the hearing aid," Kurth explained.

The chip can then automatically separate low and high pitched sounds and adjust volume, bass and treble levels all while capturing sound intensities based on the individual's needs.

"It's like a little computer in your ear," said Dan Richards, spokesman for the center.

And that little computer has some kick. "Our chip is as powerful as any desktop computer," said Ron Meltsner, president of the Widex hearing-aid company, which manufactures the aids.

Traditional hearing aids simply amplified the sound without filtering any extraneous noise and fit largely on the back of the ear, Richards said.

And because the results of the test are stored on computer, the hearing aid, which is as big as a fingertip and fits inside the ear canal, can be adjusted to fit each individual's hearing needs.

"Over time as an individual's hearing changes, due to health problems or the natural aging process, so can the information stored in the computer," said Kurth.

Currently, only two companies, ReSound of California and Widex, a Danish company, manufacture the hearing aids, which cost about $2,000.