How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse purchase (unless you’re really rich). Which means you will most likely do a great deal of research first. You check out reviews, you assess prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) 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 for it (unless, again, you are really wealthy). So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

Not only do you consider the concrete factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also give thought to best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a particular style of vehicle you really like? Do you require a lot of space to carry supplies around? How fast do you want your car to be?

In other words, to get the most from your new car, you have to assess 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 are an investment. And getting the most from your investment means determining which devices work best, in general, as well as what delivers the most for your lifestyle.

Hearing aid benefits

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

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most people, the advantages are more tangible than that. Staying involved with your friends and family will be much easier with a good pair of hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a tale about dinosaurs at the dinner table with your grandchildren, and engaging in 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 costly?

Some individuals may think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the most expensive 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 tiny and very sophisticated. That means you’re purchasing an extremely potent technological package.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Particularly if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will automatically work best. There are lots of variables to consider (including the degree of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Some hearing aids will undoubtedly last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to keep working effectively. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will need to be programmed to your right needs.

Be sure you get the correct hearing aids for you

So, what are your options? You’ll be able to choose from several different styles and types. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. Here are the solutions you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are usually quite discrete (perfect for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). But with this type of hearing aid, battery life, and overall lifespan tends to be 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 mostly discrete because they are molded to fit your ear canal. They will often include more high-tech features being a bit bigger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be a bit tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still rather small). Even still, ITC models are ideal for individuals who need more features but still want to remain discreet.
• 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 sits in your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits totally in your 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 the perfect option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a sense, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of device has one bit that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but transfers all of the bulky electronics to a housing that sits behind your ear. The small tube that connects the two parts is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids provide many amplification solutions making them quite popular. These types are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• 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 reducing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re using the device. If you have difficulty 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 individuals, it won’t be a good choice for everybody.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep inundating you with acronyms) are yet another option 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. Prescription hearing aids can be fine-tuned to your specific hearing needs which is an option generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

No matter what kind of hearing aid you decide to purchase, it’s always a good plan to talk to us about what will work best for your specific needs.

Maintenance and repair

Obviously, 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 needs oil changes once in a while.

So how frequently 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 order.

You should also become familiar with your warranty. You will save some cash when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good upkeep and a great warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

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

The secret is to choose the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. 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 ahead of time. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!