Getting The Most From 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 great deal of research ahead of time. 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 level of research. For most individuals who aren’t rich, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you will 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 like safety, gas mileage, etc. What type of vehicle do you like? How much room do you need for weekly groceries? How much pep do you need to feel when you push down that gas pedal?

In other words, to get the most out of your new car, you need to assess your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same mindset you should take when choosing your hearing aids. They won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they’re still an investment. Identifying which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

Hearing aid advantages

In just 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 a great investment!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most individuals, the benefits are more tangible than that. Staying connected with your friends and family will be a lot easier with a good pair 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.

With all these benefits, it seems sensible that you’d start to ask, “How can I help my hearing aids last longer?” You don’t want those benefits to go away.

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

Some individuals might assume that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the highest-priced device.

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

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is really small and very sophisticated. That means you’re purchasing an extremely 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 that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will automatically work best. There are lots of factors to think about (including the degree of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Of Course! 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 keep working properly. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your ears and calibrated for your unique level of hearing loss.

Be sure you get the best hearing aids for you

So, what are your choices? You’ll be able to choose from numerous different types and styles. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be best for your hearing needs. Here are the solutions 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 provide 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 don’t get some of the most sophisticated functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to your ear canal. They will typically contain more high-tech functions being a little bigger than CIC models. These devices are still rather small and some of the features can be a little hard to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also contain some sophisticated features, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are also molded to your ears. No part of the device sits in your ear canal, it all sits in your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits your whole 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 option.
• 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 two parts are connected by a little tube, but for the most part, it’s pretty non-visible. These hearing aids offer many amplification options 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): This is much like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit fits in the ear canal. They have the benefit of reducing wind noise and are generally 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 trouble hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really an issue, these hearing aids will be a great fit for you. It’s not a good option for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

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 if your hearing loss calls for a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices might fall somewhat short. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is a feature generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

Regardless of what kind of hearing aid you choose to buy, it’s always a good idea to consult us about what might work best for your particular requirements.

Repair and maintenance

After you decide on the ideal hearing aid for your hearing needs, taking care of it is essential. Just like your car requires oil changes once in a while.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. This gives you a chance to make sure that everything is working properly and as it should!

It’s also a good idea to be somewhat familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some money 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 maintenance and a strong warranty.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

There isn’t a single greatest all-time hearing aid. If you go to see twelve different hearing specialists and ask for the “best” hearing aid, they might provide you with a dozen different models.

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. Just like with a vehicle, for some an SUV will be the right choice, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. It all just depends, and the same is true for hearing aids.

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

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