Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. 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.) This amount of research makes sense! For most people who aren’t wealthy, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you will 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 such as safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a specific style of vehicle you really enjoy? Do you require a lot of room to carry things around? How fast do you want your car to be?

In other words, to get the most out of your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s important to have this same attitude. They’re still an investment even though 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.

The benefits of hearing aids

In exactly the same way that you can discuss the benefits of a car in a very general way, you can also talk about the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly broad way. Hearing aids are a great investment!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most people, the advantages are more tangible than that. With a pair of hearing aids, you can stay 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 fascinating dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the checkout clerk at the supermarket.

It’s only natural that you would want to make your hearing aids last as long as possible given all of the benefits. You want to keep those benefits coming!

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

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

Hearing aids are definitely an investment. There’s a reason why some devices are expensive in the first place:

• Hearing aids are designed to contain very sophisticated technologies, and they need to make those technologies as small as possible. So the package you’re purchasing is extremely technologically potent.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Especially if you take care of them.

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 think about. Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding variable.

In order to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working order, as with any other investment, they will need regular care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will have to be calibrated to your ears and calibrated for your distinct level of hearing loss.

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and types to choose from. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be ideal for your hearing needs. 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 deliver high-quality sound and are usually quite discrete (perfect for people 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 sophisticated features.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to your ear canal. Because they’re a little larger than CIC models, they might contain more high-tech features. These devices are still fairly small and some of the functions can be a bit hard to manipulate by hand. Even still, ITC models are great for individuals who require more features but still want to be discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to fit completely inside your outer ear. Two styles are available (full shell, which fits your whole ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). These devices are more exposed but can include advanced and powerful microphones, making them a great option for noise control or complex hearing issues.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device fits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part sits behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The two parts are connected by a small tube, but in general, it’s pretty non-visible. These hearing aids offer 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 fits in the ear canal but they are otherwise similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the additional advantage of cutting down on things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies are not really a problem, these hearing aids will be a great fit for you. Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good option for everyone.

What about 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 think about. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But if your hearing loss warrants a pair of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices could fall somewhat short. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is a feature generally not available with OTC hearing aids.

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

Repair and upkeep

Of course, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to select your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. Just like your car needs oil changes now and then.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be assessed? Generally, you should schedule a routine maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working order.

It’s also not a bad idea to be somewhat familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some money when you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered. A strong warranty and regular maintenance will help your hearing last as long as possible.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There is no single best 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 requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Some people 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 beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are perfect for you. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!

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