Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not very wealthy, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. Which means you will probably do a lot of research ahead of time. You take 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 amount of research. 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 certain your investment is well spent.

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best fits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you enjoy? How much room do you require for weekly supplies? How much pep do you need to feel when you push down that gas pedal?

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

The benefits of hearing aids

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

Yes, they help you hear, 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 grandkids tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and converse with the cashier at the grocery store.

With all these benefits, it seems sensible that you’d start to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You want to keep those benefits coming!

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

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

And, to be sure, hearing aids are an investment. There’s a reason why some hearing aids are costly in the first place:

• Hearing aids are made to include very sophisticated technologies, and they need to make those technologies as tiny as possible. So the package you’re paying for is extremely technologically potent.
• They’re made to be long-lasting. If you take good care of them this is particularly relevant.

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will automatically work best. There are a lot of variables to think about (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Sure! But the cost of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

As with any other investment, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to keep working properly. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your exact requirements.

Make sure you get the best hearing aids for you

What options do you have? You’ll be able to choose from several different types and styles. We can help you identify which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. Here are the solutions you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are generally quite discrete (perfect for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. And some of the most state-of-the-art features are typically missing because of their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to fit your ear canal. They will typically include more high-tech functions being a little larger than CIC models. These devices are still fairly small and some of the features can be a bit hard to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some sophisticated functions, this style will be ideal.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to fit entirely in your outer ear. Two styles 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 a great choice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits 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 small tube, but for the most part, it’s fairly non-visible. These hearing aids provide many amplification solutions making them quite popular. These kinds 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 similar to 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. This makes them suitable for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good choice for everyone.

How 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 kind of like OTC medications, they work okay in a basic 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. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specially programmed to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

The best way to figure out what type of hearing aid will be best for you, you should consult with us.

Maintenance and repair

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

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

You should also become familiar with your warranty. If and when you require repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some money! So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good maintenance and a strong warranty.

So… what is the best hearing aid?

There is no 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 twelve different models.

The secret is to choose 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 ahead of time 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!