How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. Which means you will most likely do a great deal of research ahead of time. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It is sensible to do this amount of research. For most people who aren’t wealthy, it will take a long time 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 suits 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 need for weekly groceries? How fast do you want your car to be?

Put another way, to get the most from your new car, you need to assess your options and make some choices. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. They may not cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they are an investment. Figuring out which device will fit your lifestyle best 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 a very general way, you can also discuss the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly broad way. Hearing aids are pretty awesome!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most people, the benefits are more tangible than that. With a pair of hearing aids, you can remain connected to the people in your life. 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 enjoying conversations with friends.

It’s only logical that you would want to make your hearing aids last as long as possible given all of the benefits. You don’t want those benefits to go away.

Are higher quality hearing aids always more costly?

There might be some people out there who would assume that the most effective way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to simply purchase the most high priced device possible.

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

• Hearing aids are designed to contain very state-of-the-art technologies, and they need to make those technologies as tiny as possible. So the package you’re purchasing is extremely technologically potent.
• Hearing aids are also designed to last for quite a while. If you take good care of them this is especially true.

But the most costly model won’t automatically be your best fit or work the best. There are lots of variables to consider (including the degree of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Some hearing aids will undoubtedly last longer than others. But that isn’t always determined 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 require regular care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will have to be programmed to your specific requirements.

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have a number of different styles and kinds to select from. You can work with us to figure out which ones are best for you and your hearing goals. But generally, here’s what you’ll have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These types of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and tend to be quite discrete (great for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only problem is that they tend to have a shorter longevity 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 often have more high-tech features being a bit bigger than CIC models. Some of these features can be somewhat tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still quite small). Even still, ITC models are ideal for people who require more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to fit entirely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits entirely inside your ear. These devices are more visible but can include sophisticated and powerful microphones, making them a great option for noise control or complex hearing conditions.
• 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 little tube that connects the two elements is still pretty discrete. These hearing aids provide many amplification solutions making them quite popular. These types are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this model, the speaker part sits in the ear canal but they are otherwise a lot like BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the added advantage 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 hearing the device. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies are not really an issue, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. It isn’t a good option for all forms of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Another option 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 need 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 kind of hearing aid you choose to purchase, it’s always a good idea to talk to us about what might work best for your particular needs.

Repair and upkeep

After you choose the best hearing aid for your hearing needs, taking care of it is crucial. This is, once again, like a car which also requires upkeep.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and properly maintained every six months to a year. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working condition.

You should also become familiar with your warranty. You will save some money when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is usually simple: good upkeep and a strong warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There is no single best all-time hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they feel is the best.

Which hearing aids fit your hearing loss requirements 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 is true for hearing aids.

But you will have an easier time finding the hearing aid that’s right for you if you are well informed beforehand. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!