How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse purchase (unless you’re really wealthy). So a great deal of research is most likely the first step you take. You have a good look at things such as gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this amount of research. For most people who aren’t wealthy, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you’re about to spend. So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

Not only do you consider the objective factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also give thought to best fits for your lifestyle. What style of vehicle do you like? Do you need a lot of space to carry things around? How much pep do you need to feel when you press down that accelerator?

In other words, to get the most from your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some choices. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. They won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they’re still an investment. Figuring out which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

In exactly the same way that you can talk about 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 pretty awesome!

The benefits of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than just helping you hear. With a set of hearing aids, you can remain involved with the people in your life. You’ll be able to better follow conversations at the dinner table, listen to your grandchildren tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the cashier at the supermarket.

It’s only logical 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 go away.

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

Some individuals may assume 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 expensive in the first place:

• Hearing aids are made to contain very advanced technologies, and they need to make those technologies as tiny as possible. So the package you’re paying for is extremely technologically potent.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Particularly if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will automatically work best. There are a lot of factors to consider (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Certainly! But that isn’t always determined by how expensive the device was in the first place.

As with any other investment, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to keep working effectively. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will have to be tuned to your specific requirements.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have numerous different styles and kinds to choose from. You can work with us to determine which ones are best for you and your hearing goals. But generally, here’s what you’ll have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For individuals who want their hearing aids to be discrete and also provide high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the ideal choice. The only difficulty is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. The small size also means you don’t get some of the most sophisticated functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to fit your ear canal. They will often contain more high-tech features being a little bigger than CIC models. Some of these features can be a bit tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still rather small). If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some sophisticated features, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits in your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). If you have complex hearing problems or need more powerful noise control, the more advanced technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids a great option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part sits behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The two parts are connected by a little tube, but in general, it’s fairly non-visible. These hearing aids offer many amplification choices making them quite popular. These types are a good compromise between power and visibility.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is much like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit fits in the ear canal. They have the benefit of reducing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will let low-frequency sounds enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. This makes them suitable for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). It’s not a good choice for all forms of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Another possibility to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you need if your hearing loss is more advanced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your specific hearing needs which is an option generally not available with OTC hearing aids.

The best way to figure out what kind of hearing aid will be best for you, you should consult with us.

Repair and maintenance

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. This is, again, like a car which also needs upkeep.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and properly maintained every six months to a year. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working condition.

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

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There is no single best all-time hearing aid. Every hearing specialist might have a different model that they think is the best.

Which hearing aids fit your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Some individuals will go with a minivan, others for an SUV. The same goes with hearing aids, it all depends on your situation.

But the more you understand beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are perfect for you. Schedule a hearing test with us today!