How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car isn’t really an impulse purchase. So a lot 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. 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 for it (unless, again, you are very rich). So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

You’ll be considering how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you want? 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 need to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same attitude you should take when selecting your hearing aids. 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 from your investment.

The benefits of hearing aids

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

The advantages of hearing aids, for most people, are more tangible than merely helping you hear. With a pair of hearing aids, you can remain connected to the people in your life. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations at the dinner table, listen to your grandchildren tell you about cool dinosaurs, and converse with the checkout clerk at the supermarket.

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 want to keep those benefits coming!

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

There may be some people out there who would assume that the most effective way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to just purchase the most high priced device they can.

And, to be sure, hearing aids can be an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids might be costly:

• Hearing aids are made to contain very advanced technologies, and they need to make those technologies as small as possible. So the package you’re paying for is very technologically potent.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. If you take good care of them this is particularly relevant.

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

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to continue working properly. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be programmed to your right needs.

Get the correct hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have numerous different styles and types to pick from. You can work with us to determine which ones are the right choice for you and 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 deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the best choice. But with this type of hearing aid, battery life, and overall longevity tends to be shorter. The small size also means you won’t get some of the most sophisticated 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 slightly larger than CIC models. Some of these functions 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 contain some advanced functions, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to sit entirely in your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits totally inside 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 the perfect option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a sense, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of hearing aid has one bit that fits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a casing that sits behind your ear. The little tube that connects the two elements is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids are popular because they offer many amplification solutions. These kinds are a great 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 part sits in the ear canal. They have the benefit of reducing 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 choice for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep inundating you with acronyms) are yet another alternative to consider. The difficulty is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work fine in a general sense. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you need if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically calibrated to your hearing like prescription hearing aids can.

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

Upkeep and repair

After you choose the best hearing aid for your hearing requirements, taking care of it is essential. Just like your car requires oil changes now and again.

So how frequently will your hearing aids need to be checked? You should get your hearing aid cleaned and properly maintained every six months to a year. This gives you an opportunity to be certain everything’s working properly and as it should!

You should also get familiar with your warranty. You will save some money when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. A good warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

There isn’t a single greatest all-time hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they think is the best.

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. Just like with an automobile, for some an SUV will be best, 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 choosing the hearing aid that’s right for you if you are well informed beforehand. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!