Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. Which means you will most likely do a great deal of research first. You check out reviews, you assess prices, and you consider gas mileage. Google is your best friend these days. It is sensible to do this amount of research. You’re about to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something and spend years paying it off (unless, again, you are really wealthy). So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

Not only do you consider the concrete factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also think about best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a specific type of vehicle you really like? Do you require a lot of room to carry supplies around? How much pep do you need to feel when you press down that gas pedal?

Put another way, to get the most from your new car, you have to assess your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same attitude you should have when choosing your hearing aids. They may not cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they are an investment. Figuring out which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

The example of the benefits of buying hearing aids can be broadly compared with the example of purchasing a car. Hearing aids are a great investment!

The advantages of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than merely helping you hear. Staying connected with your friends and family will be a lot easier with a good set of hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a story about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandkids, and engaging in conversations with friends.

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

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

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

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

• Hearing aids are designed to include very advanced technologies, and they have to make those technologies as tiny as possible. So the package you’re purchasing is extremely technologically potent.
• They’re made to be long-lasting. If you take good care of them this is especially true.

But the most costly model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. How profound your hearing loss is and, of course, your budget are a couple of the variables to think about. Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But that isn’t always determined by how costly 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 routine care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be programmed to your right requirements.

Get the correct hearing aids for your hearing loss

What choices do you have? You’ll be able to pick from numerous different styles and types. You can work with us to figure out which ones are ideal for you and your hearing needs. But in general, here’s what you’ll have to select from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These types of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are usually quite discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. And some of the most state-of-the-art functions tend to be missing because of their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are custom molded to fit your ear canal, which makes them mostly hidden. They will often contain more high-tech functions being a little bigger than CIC models. These devices are still fairly small and some of the features can be a little difficult to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some sophisticated functions, this style will be ideal.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to fit completely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version sits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits completely inside your ear. These hearing aids are more visible but can contain sophisticated and powerful microphones, making them an excellent choice for noise control or complex hearing conditions.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device fits 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 devices are popular because they provide many amplification choices. These kinds are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this design, the speaker part sits in the ear canal but they are otherwise a lot like BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the added advantage of decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will let low-frequency sounds enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies are not really a problem, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good option for everybody.

What about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another option to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. The trouble is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work okay in a basic way. But if your hearing loss calls for a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices may fall a bit short. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specially calibrated to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

No matter what kind of hearing aid you choose to purchase, it’s always a good idea to talk to us about what might work best for your particular needs.

Repair and upkeep

Of course, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you need to take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes now and again.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be assessed? Generally, you should schedule a routine maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working order.

You should also get familiar with your warranty. If and when you need repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some cash! 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 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 for a minivan, others for an SUV. The same goes with hearing aids, it all depends on your specific situation.

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