How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. Which means you will most likely do a lot of research ahead of time. You check out reviews, you compare prices, and you consider gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this level 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 be certain it’s worth it!

Not only do you look at the objective factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also think about best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a particular style 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?

Put another way, to get the most out of your new car, you need to examine your options and make some choices. And that’s the same attitude you should have when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment even though they cost much less than a new car. And getting the most from your investment means determining which devices work best, overall, as well as what provides the most for your lifestyle.

Hearing aid benefits

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

The benefits of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than simply helping you hear. Staying involved with your friends and family will be a lot easier with a good set of hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a story about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandchildren, and enjoying conversations with friends.

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

Are higher quality hearing aids always more costly?

Some individuals 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 expensive in the first place:

• Hearing aids are designed to contain very state-of-the-art technologies, and they have to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re purchasing an extremely potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. If you take good care of them this is especially relevant.

But the most expensive model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. How profound your hearing loss is and, obviously, what you can afford are a couple of the variables to consider. Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Certainly! But that isn’t always dictated by how costly the device was in the first place.

In order to keep your hearing aids in good working condition, as with any other purchase, they will call for regular care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will need to be programmed to your specific needs.

Make sure you get the correct hearing aids for you

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have numerous different styles and types to select from. You can work with us to figure out which ones are the right choice for you and your hearing needs. Here are the options you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be discrete and also provide high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the best choice. The only difficulty 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 features.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are custom molded to fit your ear canal, which makes them mostly discrete. Because they’re a little larger than CIC models, they may contain more high-tech features. These devices are still pretty small and some of the features can be a bit hard to manipulate by hand. Still, ITC models are great for individuals who require more features but still want to be discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to fit completely in your outer ear. Two styles are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which sits in the lower ear). These devices are more visible but can contain advanced and powerful microphones, making them an excellent choice for noise control or complex hearing issues.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This style of hearing aid has one part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but transfers all of the bulky electronics to a housing that goes behind your ear. The pieces are connected by a little tube, but in general, it’s pretty non-visible. These hearing aids are popular because they offer many amplification options. These types are a great compromise between power and visibility.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this design, the speaker part sits in the ear canal but they are otherwise a lot like BTE models. They have the benefit of minimizing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re using the device. This makes them a good fit for people who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good choice for everyone.

Pros and Cons of 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 sort of like OTC medications, they work okay in a general sense. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you need if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specially tuned to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

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

Upkeep and repair

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

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be assessed? Generally, you should schedule a regular maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. This gives you a chance to make sure everything’s working properly and as it should!

You should also become familiar with your warranty. If and when you require repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what isn’t 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 great warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There is no single best all-time hearing aid. If you go to see twelve different hearing specialists and request 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. Some individuals will opt for a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. The same is true for hearing aids, it just depends on your specific situation.

But you will have an easier time finding the hearing aid that’s right for you if you are well informed ahead of time. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!