How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse buy. So a lot of research is most likely the first thing you do. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. Google is your best friend right now. It is sensible to do this amount of research. For most individuals who aren’t rich, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you’re about to spend. So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

You’ll be considering 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 enjoy? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How much pep do you want to feel when you press down that gas pedal?

So you need to have a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed choices so that you can get the most out of your purchase. And that’s the same mindset you should have when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment although they cost a lot less than a new car. Figuring out which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

The advantages of hearing aids

The example of the benefits of investing in hearing aids can be generally compared with the example of buying a car. Hearing aids are pretty awesome!

The advantages of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than simply helping you hear. 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 at the dinner table with your grandkids, 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 stop.

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

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

Hearing aids are certainly an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids can be costly:

• Hearing aids are made to contain very state-of-the-art technologies, and they have to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re getting a very potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. Especially if you take care of them.

But the most expensive model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. How profound your hearing loss is and, of course, what you can afford are a couple of the variables to think about. Some hearing aids will undoubtedly 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 need regular care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will have to be programmed to your specific requirements.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

What choices do you have? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have a number of different styles and types to pick from. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be best for your hearing needs. Here are the options you will have to pick from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are typically quite discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall longevity is usually shorter. And some of the most modern functions tend to be missing due to 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 typically include more high-tech features being slightly bigger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be a little tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still quite small). Even still, ITC models are ideal for people who require more features but still want to be discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to sit completely inside your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower 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 choice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part goes behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The small tube that connects the two parts is still pretty discrete. These devices are popular because they offer many amplification choices. 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 a lot like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker part fits in the ear canal. They have the benefit of minimizing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. This makes them a good fit for people who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). It isn’t a good option for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

What about 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 think about. 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. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically tuned to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

No matter what type of hearing aid you choose to invest in, it’s always a good idea to consult us about what might work best for your particular requirements.

Repair and upkeep

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

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 sure everything is in good working condition.

It’s also not a bad idea to be fairly familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some cash when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how can I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good upkeep and a strong warranty.

So… what’s 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 might 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 best, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. It all just depends, and the same goes for hearing aids.

But the more you understand ahead of time and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are ideal for you. Schedule a hearing test with us today!