Getting 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 lot of research first. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, 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 be certain it’s worth it!

You’ll be considering how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you want? Do you require a lot of space to carry supplies around? How fast do you want your car to be?

So you need to 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 important to have this same attitude. They’re still an investment even though they cost much less than a new car. And getting the most out of your investment means figuring out which devices work best, in general, as well as what delivers the most for your lifestyle.

Hearing aid advantages

In just 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 a wonderful 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 better follow conversations during dinner, listen to your grandkids tell you about cool dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the cashier at the grocery store.

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!

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

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

Hearing aids are definitely an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids tend to be expensive:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very small and very sophisticated. That means you’re getting an extremely potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also designed to last for a long time. Particularly if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will inevitably 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? Of Course! But that isn’t always dictated by how costly the device was in the first place.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to keep working properly. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your exact requirements.

Make sure you get the correct hearing aids for you

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have a number of different styles and types to pick from. You can work with us to figure out which ones are ideal for you and your hearing needs. But in general, 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 are typically very discrete (perfect for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. The small size also means you don’t get some of the most sophisticated functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to your ear canal. They will often include more high-tech functions being a little larger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be somewhat tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still rather small). If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also have some sophisticated features, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the device sits in your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two styles are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your 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 little tube that connects the two elements is still rather discrete. These devices are popular because they provide many amplification solutions. These kinds are a good compromise between power and visibility.
• 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 similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the additional advantage of reducing things like wind noise.
• 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 people who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). It isn’t a good choice for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

What about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another option to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. The trouble is that OTC hearing aids are kind of like OTC medications, they work okay in a general sense. But if your hearing loss warrants a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices may fall a bit short. Prescription hearing aids can be fine-tuned 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 purchase, it’s always a smart plan to speak with us about what will work best for your specific needs.

Repair and upkeep

Obviously, 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 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. This gives you a chance to make sure that everything is working properly and as it should!

You should also get familiar with your warranty. If and when you need repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some cash! 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’s no single best hearing aid. Every hearing specialist might have a different model that they feel is the best.

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. 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 know beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are perfect for you. Call us to schedule a consultation today!

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