How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse buy. Which means you will most likely do a lot of research first. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It is sensible to do this level of research. For most people 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 be certain it’s worth it!

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a specific style of vehicle you really enjoy? Do you need a lot of space 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 purchase. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. 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 overall, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

In exactly 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 general way. Hearing aids are a wonderful investment!

The benefits of hearing aids, for most people, are more tangible than just 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 over dinner with your grandkids, and enjoying conversations with friends.

It’s only natural 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.

Are higher quality hearing aids always more costly?

There may be some people out there who would presume that the best way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to just purchase the most expensive device possible.

And, to be certain, hearing aids are an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids can be expensive:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very tiny and very state-of-the-art. That means you’re purchasing a very potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for quite a while. If you take good care of them this is particularly relevant.

But the most costly model won’t automatically be your best fit or work the best. How severe your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the variables to consider. Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But the cost of the device isn’t always the deciding variable.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to continue working properly. What’s more, your hearing aids will have to be calibrated to your ears and calibrated for your unique level of hearing loss.

Make sure you get the right hearing aids for you

What options do you have? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and kinds to pick from. You can work with us to determine which ones are ideal for you and your hearing goals. But in general, here’s what you’ll have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and tend to be very discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall lifespan 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 hidden because they are molded to fit your ear canal. They will typically include more high-tech functions being slightly larger than CIC models. These devices are still pretty small and some of the functions can be a little hard to manipulate by hand. Still, ITC models are great for individuals who require more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits inside your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two styles are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). These hearing aids are more exposed but can include sophisticated and powerful microphones, making them a great choice for noise control or complex hearing conditions.
• 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 part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a housing that goes behind your ear. The little tube that connects the two elements is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids provide many amplification choices making them quite popular. When you want the best of both visibility and power, these devices will be the perfect option.
• 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 similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the added benefit of reducing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re wearing the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. This makes them suitable for people who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). It’s not a good choice for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Another possibility to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. 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 advanced or complex. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically programmed to your hearing like prescription hearing aids can.

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

Repair and upkeep

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

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be assessed? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and properly maintained every six months to a year. This gives you a chance to be sure everything’s working properly and as it should!

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

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

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

Which hearing aids fit your hearing loss needs will be the ones that are best for you. Some individuals will go with a minivan, others for an SUV. 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. Call us to schedule a consultation today!