How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. So a great deal of research is probably the first thing you do. You take a good look at things such as gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) This level of research is logical! For most individuals who aren’t rich, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you’re about to spend. So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best fits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a specific type of vehicle you really like? How much room do you require for weekly groceries? How fast do you want your car to be?

Put another way, to get the most out of your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some choices. And that’s the same mindset you should have when choosing your hearing aids. They’re still an investment even though they cost a lot less than a new car. Determining which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

In just the same way that you can discuss the benefits of a car in a very general way, you can also talk about the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly general way. Hearing aids are a great investment!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most individuals, the advantages are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can stay connected to the people in your life. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations at the dinner table, listen to your grandchildren tell you about cool dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the checkout clerk at the supermarket.

It’s only natural that you would want to make your hearing aids last as long as possible given all of the benefits. You don’t want those benefits to stop.

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

Some individuals might think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the highest-priced device.

Hearing aids are certainly an investment. There’s a reason why some devices are costly in the first place:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is really small and very state-of-the-art. That means you’re paying for a very potent technological package.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Particularly if you take care of them.

But the most costly model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. There are a lot of factors to consider (including the degree of your hearing loss and, well, your budget!) Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Of Course! But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

In order to keep your hearing aids in good working condition, as with any other purchase, they will need regular care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your ears and adjusted for your specific level of hearing loss.

Get the correct hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and kinds to choose from. You can work with us to determine which ones are best for you and your hearing needs. Here are the options you will have to pick from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be hidden and also deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the ideal choice. But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall longevity is usually shorter. And some of the most modern features tend to be missing because of their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly hidden because they are molded to fit your ear canal. They will often include more high-tech features being a bit larger than CIC models. These devices are still fairly small and some of the functions can be a bit hard to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some advanced functions, this type will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the device sits inside your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits your whole ear, or half shell, which sits in the lower ear). These hearing aids are more visible but can include advanced and powerful microphones, making them a great option for noise control or complex hearing problems.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part goes behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The little tube that connects the two elements is still rather discrete. These hearing aids are popular because they offer many amplification options. These kinds are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is a lot like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker part fits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re using the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. If you have problems hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies are not really an issue, these hearing aids will be a great fit for you. Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good option for everybody.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep flooding you with acronyms) are yet another option to think about. The problem is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work fine in a basic sense. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is an option generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

Regardless of what kind of hearing aid you decide to buy, it’s always a smart plan to speak with us about what will work best for your specific needs.

Maintenance and repair

Of course, once you’ve taken all of the steps to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you need to take care of it. This is, once again, like a car which also needs upkeep.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be checked? Generally, you should schedule a routine upkeep and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. This gives you an opportunity to be certain everything’s working properly and as it should!

It’s also not a bad idea to be fairly familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some cash when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. A strong warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what is the best hearing aid?

There’s no single best hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they feel is the best.

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Just like with a vehicle, for some an SUV will be best, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. It all just depends, and the same is true for hearing aids.

But you will have an easier time choosing the hearing aid that’s best for you if you are well informed beforehand. Call us to schedule a consultation today!