How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse purchase (unless you’re really wealthy). So a lot of research is probably the first thing you do. You look at reviews, you assess prices, and you consider gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) It is sensible to do this amount of research. For most people who aren’t rich, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. So you want to be certain 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 style of vehicle you really like? Do you require a lot of room to carry supplies around? How fast do you want your car to be?

So you should have a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed decisions in order to get the most from your investment. And when you’re picking out new hearing aids, it’s important to have this same mindset. They’re still an investment although they cost much less than a new car. Figuring out which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

Hearing aid advantages

In just 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 broad way. Hearing aids are a great investment!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most individuals, the benefits are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can stay involved with the people in your life. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a story about dinosaurs at the dinner table with your grandkids, and enjoying conversations with friends.

With all these benefits, it seems sensible that you’d start to ask, “How can I help my hearing aids last longer?” You want to keep those benefits coming!

Are higher quality hearing aids always more costly?

Some people may think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the most expensive device.

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

• Hearing aids are made to include very sophisticated technologies, and they have to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re purchasing an extremely potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for quite a while. Especially if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will inevitably work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the factors to think about. Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But that isn’t always dictated by how expensive the device was in the first place.

In order to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working condition, as with any other investment, they will call for regular care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will have to be tuned to your ears and adjusted for your unique level of hearing loss.

Make certain you get the best hearing aids for you

What choices do you have? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and kinds to pick from. We can help you identify which hearing aids will be best for your hearing needs. Here are the solutions you will have to pick from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are generally very discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). The only problem is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. And some of the most sophisticated functions 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 have more high-tech features being slightly larger than CIC models. These devices are still pretty small and some of the functions can be a bit difficult to manipulate by hand. Even still, ITC models are great for people who need more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to fit entirely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits completely in your ear. If you have complex hearing issues or need more powerful noise control, the more sophisticated technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids a great option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a sense, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This style of hearing aid has one bit that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but transfers all of the bulky electronics to a casing that sits behind your ear. The pieces are connected by a small tube, but for the most part, it’s pretty non-visible. These devices are popular because they offer many amplification solutions. When you want the best of both power and visibility, these devices will be the perfect choice.
• 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 cutting down on things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re using the device. If you have trouble hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies are not really an issue, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good choice for everyone.

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 alternative to consider. 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 require if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically calibrated to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

Regardless of what type of hearing aid you choose to invest in, it’s always a good plan to consult us about what will work best for your specific requirements.

Repair and upkeep

After you decide on the best hearing aid for your hearing requirements, taking care of it is crucial. This is, once again, like a car which also requires maintenance.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be assessed? You should get your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working order.

You should also become familiar with your warranty. If and when you require repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some money! A strong warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

There’s no single best hearing aid. If you go to see twelve different hearing specialists and request the “best” hearing aid, they may provide you with a dozen different models.

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Just like with an automobile, for some an SUV will be best, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. The same goes with hearing aids, it just depends on your specific situation.

But you will have an easier time choosing the hearing aid that’s right for you if you are well informed ahead of time. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!