How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car isn’t really an impulse purchase. So a lot of research is most likely the first thing you do. You check out reviews, you assess prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. Google is your best friend right now. This level of research makes sense! For most individuals who aren’t wealthy, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you’re about to spend. So you want to be certain it’s worth it!

Not only do you look at the concrete factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also give thought to best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a specific type of vehicle you really enjoy? Do you require a lot of room to carry things around? How fast do you want your car to be?

In other words, to get the most from your new car, you have to assess your options and make some choices. And that’s the same attitude you should take when choosing your hearing aids. They’re still an investment although they cost a lot less than a new car. Identifying which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

The benefits of hearing aids

The example of the benefits of buying hearing aids can be broadly compared with the example of purchasing a car. Hearing aids are pretty great!

The advantages of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than just helping you hear. Staying involved with your family and friends will be a lot easier with a good set of hearing aids. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations during dinner, listen to your grandchildren tell you about cool dinosaurs, and converse with the checkout clerk at the grocery store.

It’s only logical 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?

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

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

• Hearing aids are made to contain very sophisticated technologies, and they have 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. Especially if you take care of them.

But the most costly model won’t automatically be your best fit or work the best. How severe your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the variables to think about. Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

In order to keep your hearing aids in good working order, as with any other investment, they will call for routine care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your ears and adjusted for your unique level of hearing loss.

Make certain you get the best hearing aids for you

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

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be hidden and also provide high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the ideal choice. But with this type of hearing aid, battery life, and overall lifespan tends to be shorter. The small size also means you won’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 bit larger than CIC models, they might include more high-tech functions. These devices are still pretty small and some of the functions can be a bit hard to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some advanced features, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to sit completely inside 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 advanced technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids a great choice.
• 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 small tube that connects the two elements is still rather discrete. These devices are popular because they offer 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): This is a lot like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit fits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the added benefit 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 trouble with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good choice for everybody.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another possibility to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. OTC hearing aids work okay in general, much like OTC medications. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more advanced or complex. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specially calibrated to your hearing like prescription hearing aids can.

No matter what kind of hearing aid you choose to invest in, it’s always a smart idea to consult us about what might work best for your particular requirements.

Repair and maintenance

Of course, once you’ve taken all of the steps to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes now and then.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids 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 condition.

It’s also not a bad idea to be somewhat familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some money when you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how can I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good maintenance and a strong warranty.

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.

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss needs will be the ones that are best for you. Some families will go for a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. The same goes for hearing aids, it just depends on your 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 perfect for you. Give us a call to schedule a consultation today!