Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not really rich, a car really isn’t an impulse buy. Which means you will most likely do a lot of research first. You take a good look at things such as gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. Google is your best friend right now. This level of research is logical! You’re about to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something and spend years paying for it (unless, again, you are very rich). So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

Not only do you consider the objective factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also think about best fits for your lifestyle. What style of vehicle do you enjoy? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How much power do you want to feel when you push down that gas pedal?

So you need to have a close look at all of your options and make some informed decisions so that you can get the most from your investment. And that’s the same attitude you should take when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment although they cost a lot less than a new car. And getting the most out of your investment means figuring out which devices work best, overall, as well as what delivers the most for your lifestyle.

The advantages 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 discuss the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly general way. Hearing aids are pretty awesome!

The benefits of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than simply helping you hear. Staying involved with your friends and family will be a lot easier with a good pair of hearing aids. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations at the dinner table, listen to your grandchildren tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and converse with the cashier at the grocery store.

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 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 highest-priced device.

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

• Hearing aids are made to include very advanced technologies, and they need to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re getting an extremely potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. If you take good care of them this is especially true.

But the most costly model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. There are lots of factors to consider (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, your budget!) Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But that isn’t always dictated by how costly the device was in the first place.

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

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? You’ll be able to pick from numerous different types and styles. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be ideal for your hearing needs. But generally, here’s what you’ll have to select from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are usually quite discrete (great for individuals 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 modern functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly hidden because they are molded to your ear canal. Because they’re a little larger than CIC models, they may include more high-tech features. Some of these functions can be a bit tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still quite small). Still, ITC models are ideal for people who need more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits in your ear canal, it all sits in your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits completely in your ear. If you have complex hearing problems or need more powerful noise control, the more sophisticated technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids the perfect choice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a sense, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of hearing aid has one part that fits 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 rather discrete. These hearing aids are popular because they provide many amplification choices. When you want the best of both visibility and power, these devices will be the best solution.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this model, the speaker part fits in the ear canal but they are otherwise a lot like BTE models. They have the benefit of decreasing 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. This makes them a good fit for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have trouble with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good option for everybody.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep flooding you with acronyms) are yet another option to think about. The difficulty is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work fine in a general way. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more advanced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is an option generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

Regardless of what type of hearing aid you decide to invest in, it’s always a good idea to speak with us about what might work best for your specific needs.

Maintenance and repair

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. This is, again, like a car which also needs upkeep.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? In general, you should schedule a regular maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working order.

It’s also not a bad idea to be somewhat familiar with your device’s warranty. If and when you require repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some cash! A strong warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what is the best hearing aid?

There’s no single best hearing aid. If you go to twelve different hearing specialists and request the “best” hearing aid, they might provide you with a dozen different models.

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Some families will go with a minivan, others for an SUV. It all just depends, and the same goes for hearing aids.

But you will have an easier time choosing the hearing aid that’s best for you if you are well informed beforehand. Schedule a hearing test with us today!