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 lot of research ahead of time. You check out reviews, you compare prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) This amount of research is logical! 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 make sure your investment is well spent.

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best fits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a specific type of vehicle you really enjoy? How much room do you require for weekly supplies? How much power do you want to feel when you push down that accelerator?

So you should take a close look at all of your options and make some informed choices in order to get the most out of your investment. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same mindset. They’re still an investment even though they cost a lot less than a new car. And getting the most from your investment means determining which devices work best, in general, as well as what provides the most for your lifestyle.

Hearing aid benefits

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

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most individuals, the advantages are more tangible than that. Staying connected with your friends and family will be much easier with a good set of hearing aids. 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 grandchildren, and engaging in conversations with friends.

With all these benefits, it makes sense that you’d begin to ask, “How can I help my hearing aids last longer?” You don’t want those benefits to stop.

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

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

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

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is really tiny and very sophisticated. So the package you’re purchasing is very technologically potent.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for quite a while. Particularly if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will inevitably work best. How severe your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the factors to think about. Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

In order to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working condition, as with any other investment, they will call for routine care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will have to be programmed to your right 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 choose from. We can help you determine 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): For people who want their hearing aids to be discrete and also deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the best choice. The only problem is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. And some of the most state-of-the-art functions are typically missing due to their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are specifically molded to fit your ear canal, which makes them mostly discrete. They will typically include more high-tech features being slightly bigger than CIC models. Some of these features can be a little tricky to adjust 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 type will be ideal.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to fit completely inside your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits your whole ear, or half shell, which sits 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 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 pieces are connected by a little tube, but for the most part, it’s fairly non-visible. These hearing aids offer many amplification solutions making them quite popular. When you want the best of both power and visibility, these devices will be the best choice.
• 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 sits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will let low-frequency sounds enter the ear even while you’re using the device. This makes them a good fit for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good option for everybody.

What about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another possibility to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. The problem is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work fine in a basic way. 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 specially calibrated to your hearing in the same way that 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.

Repair and upkeep

After you decide on the ideal hearing aid for your hearing requirements, taking care of it is essential. This is, once again, like a car which also requires maintenance.

So, now you’re thinking: how often should my hearing aids be assessed? 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.

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

So… what is the best hearing aid?

There is no single greatest all-time hearing aid. If you go to twelve different hearing specialists and request the “best” hearing aid, they may provide you with a dozen different models.

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. Some individuals will opt for a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. 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 get the hearing aids that are ideal for you. Schedule a hearing assessment with us today!

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