Final answer:
A hearing aid classified by polar pattern is considered directional, designed to focus on sounds coming from certain directions while reducing noise from others. This functionality is part of the microphone technology and is independent of other hearing aid features and types.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a hearing aid is classified by polar pattern, it is directional. This means that the hearing aid is designed to pick up sounds from specific directions while minimizing the noise from other directions. This feature is particularly useful in noisy environments where the wearer wants to focus on sounds coming from a particular direction, such as in a conversation with someone sitting across the table.
Hearing aids with directional microphones use two or more microphones to compare the sounds arriving from various directions. The internal circuitry then amplifies the sounds from the desired direction more than the sounds from other directions. This technical functionality is separate from the type of hearing aid (such as ITE—In the Ear), the presence of an M-T-O (microphone-telecoil-off) switch, or the use of soft peak clipping.