Getting The Most From Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse buy (unless you’re really rich). So a great deal of research is most likely the first step you take. You look at reviews, you compare prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. Google is your best friend these days. It is sensible to do this level of research. You’re about to drop tens of thousands of dollars on something and spend years paying it off (unless, again, you are very rich). So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a particular type of vehicle you really like? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How fast do you want your car to be?

Put another way, to get the most from your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And when you’re picking out new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. They may not cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they’re still an investment. And getting the most from your investment means figuring out which devices work best, overall, as well as what delivers the most for your lifestyle.

The benefits of hearing aids

The example of the benefits of investing in hearing aids can be generally compared with the example of buying a car. Hearing aids are a great investment!

Yes, they help you hear, but for most individuals, the benefits are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can remain 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 checkout clerk at the supermarket.

With all these benefits, it stands to reason that you’d start to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You don’t want those benefits to stop.

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

There may be some people out there who would assume that the best way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to just buy the most high priced device they can.

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

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very small and very sophisticated. That means you’re paying for an extremely potent technological package.
• They’re made to be long-lasting. Especially if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will inevitably work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, obviously, what you can afford are a couple of the variables to think about. Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Of Course! But that isn’t always determined by how costly the device was in the first place.

As with any other investment, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to continue working properly. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your ears and calibrated for your specific level of hearing loss.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? You’ll be able to choose from numerous different styles and types. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be ideal for your hearing requirements. Here are the options 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 (great for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only difficulty is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. The small size also means you won’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 fit your ear canal. Because they’re slightly larger than CIC models, they may include more high-tech features. These devices are still pretty small and some of the features can be a bit difficult to manipulate by hand. Even still, ITC models are ideal for people who need more features but still want to be discreet.
• 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). 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 way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of device has one part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a casing that sits behind your ear. The small tube that connects the two parts is still rather discrete. These hearing aids are popular because they provide many amplification choices. When you want the best of both power and visibility, these devices will be the best option.
• 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 additional advantage of decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re wearing the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really an issue, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good choice for everyone.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep inundating you with acronyms) are yet another alternative to consider. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But if your hearing loss calls for a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices may fall somewhat short. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically tuned to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

Regardless of what kind of hearing aid you choose to invest in, it’s always a smart idea to speak with us about what might work best for your particular needs.

Repair and maintenance

Of course, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes once in a while.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be assessed? In general, you should schedule a routine maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working order.

It’s also not a bad idea to be fairly familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some cash when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. A strong warranty and regular upkeep 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 think is the best.

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. The same is true for hearing aids, it all depends on your specific situation.

But the more you know 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!