Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse buy (unless you’re really wealthy). Which means you will probably do a great deal of research ahead of time. You have a good look at things such as gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It is sensible to do this level of research. For most people who aren’t wealthy, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. 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. What style of vehicle do you want? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How fast do you want your car to be?

So you need to have a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed choices in order to get the most from your purchase. And that’s the same mindset you should take when selecting your hearing aids. They won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they’re still an investment. And getting the most from your investment means determining which devices work best, overall, as well as what provides the most for your lifestyle.

The benefits of hearing aids

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

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most individuals, 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 grandchildren tell you about cool dinosaurs, and converse with the cashier 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 don’t want those benefits to stop.

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

Some people might 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. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids tend to be costly:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is really tiny and very sophisticated. So the package you’re paying for is extremely technologically potent.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. Especially 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 consider (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Some hearing aids will certainly last longer than others. But that isn’t always determined by how expensive 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 require regular care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your ears and calibrated for your specific level of hearing loss.

Make sure you get the correct hearing aids for you

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have a number of different styles and kinds to pick from. You can work with us to determine which ones are best 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 kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are generally very discrete (great for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only problem is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. And some of the most modern functions are typically missing due to their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are specifically molded to fit your ear canal, which makes them mostly hidden. They will typically include more high-tech functions being slightly larger than CIC models. These devices are still rather small and some of the functions can be a little tricky to manipulate by hand. If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also have some advanced features, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to fit completely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits entirely in your ear. These hearing aids are more visible but can contain sophisticated and powerful microphones, making them a great choice 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 goes behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The small tube that connects the two parts is still rather discrete. These devices are popular because they offer many amplification options. These kinds are a great compromise between power and visibility.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is much like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit fits in the ear canal. They have the advantage of decreasing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re using the device. If you have problems hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really a problem, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. 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

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep inundating you with acronyms) are yet another alternative to think about. The problem is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work fine in a basic sense. But if your hearing loss warrants a pair of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices could fall a bit short. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically calibrated to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

Regardless of what type of hearing aid you decide to buy, it’s always a good idea to consult us about what might work best for your specific requirements.

Upkeep and repair

Obviously, once you’ve taken all of the steps to select your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. This is, again, like a car which also needs upkeep.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be assessed? You should get your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. This gives you an opportunity to be certain 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 money! So now you’re wondering: how can I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good upkeep and a great warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There’s no single best hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they think is the best.

Which hearing aids fit your hearing loss needs will be the ones that are best for you. Some people will go for a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. The same is true for hearing aids, it all depends on your specific situation.

But the more you know beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are ideal for you. Schedule a hearing test with us today!