How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. So a lot of research is most likely the first step you take. You look at reviews, you assess prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) This amount of research is logical! 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 certain your investment is well spent.

Not only do you look at the concrete factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also think about best fits for your lifestyle. What type of vehicle do you want? How much room do you require for weekly supplies? How fast do you want your car to be?

So you should take a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed choices so that you can get the most out of your investment. And when you’re picking out new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. They won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they are 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.

The advantages of hearing aids

In exactly the same way that you can discuss the benefits of a car in very general terms, you can also discuss the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly general way. Hearing aids are pretty awesome!

Yes, they help you hear, but for most people, 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 have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a tale about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandkids, and enjoying conversations with friends.

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 go away.

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

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

And, to be sure, hearing aids are an investment. There’s a reason why some devices are costly in the first place:

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

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will automatically work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, obviously, what you can afford are a couple of the factors to consider. Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Sure! But that isn’t always determined by how expensive the device was in the first place.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to continue working effectively. What’s more, your hearing aids will have to be calibrated to your ears and adjusted for your distinct level of hearing loss.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and types to select from. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be best for your hearing needs. Here are the choices you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be discrete and also provide high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the best choice. But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall longevity is usually shorter. The small size also means you don’t get some of the most modern features.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are specifically molded to your ear canal, which makes them mostly discrete. Because they’re slightly larger than CIC models, they might include more high-tech features. Some of these functions can be a bit tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still quite small). Still, ITC models are ideal for people who need more features but still want to be discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits in your ear canal, it all sits in your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits your whole ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). These devices are more visible but can include sophisticated 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 fits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part sits behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The small tube that connects the two parts is still rather discrete. These hearing aids offer many amplification choices making them quite popular. When you want the best of both visibility and power, these devices will be the perfect choice.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is much like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit sits in the ear canal. They have the advantage of minimizing wind noise and are usually less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re using the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really a problem, these hearing aids will be a great fit for you. It’s not a good option for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another option to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. The difficulty 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 need if your hearing loss is more advanced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is an option generally not available with OTC hearing aids.

The best way to determine what type of hearing aid will be best for you, you should consult with us.

Maintenance and repair

Of course, 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 maintenance.

So, now you’re thinking: how often should my hearing aids be assessed? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. This gives you a chance to be certain everything’s working effectively and as it should!

You should also get familiar with your warranty. You will save some money when you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered. A good 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. If you go to twelve different hearing specialists and ask for the “best” hearing aid, they may provide you with twelve different models.

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 the right choice, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. It all just depends, and the same goes for hearing aids.

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

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