Getting The Most From Your Hearing Aids

A car isn’t really an impulse purchase (unless you’re very, very wealthy). So a great deal of research is probably the first thing you do. You check out reviews, you compare prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. Google is your best friend right now. It makes sense to do this amount of research. You’re about to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something and spend years paying it off (unless, again, you are really wealthy). So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

You’ll be thinking about how your purchase best fits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you want? Do you need a lot of space to carry supplies around? How much pep do you want to feel when you push down that gas pedal?

Put another way, to get the most out of your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same mindset you should have when choosing your hearing aids. They may not cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they are an investment. Figuring out which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

The advantages of hearing aids

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

The benefits of hearing aids, for most people, are more tangible than merely helping you hear. With a set of hearing aids, you can stay involved with the people in your life. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations during dinner, listen to your grandkids tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and converse with the checkout clerk at the grocery store.

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

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

Some people may think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the most expensive device.

Hearing aids are certainly an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids might be expensive:

• Hearing aids are designed to include very sophisticated technologies, and they need to make those technologies as small as possible. So the package you’re paying for is very technologically potent.
• Hearing aids are also designed to last for a long time. Especially if you take care of them.

But the most expensive 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 factors to think about. Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Certainly! But that isn’t always determined by how costly the device was in the first place.

In order to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working order, as with any other purchase, they will require routine care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will have to be programmed to your right needs.

Make certain you get the right hearing aids for you

What options do you have? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and types to choose from. You can work with us to figure out which ones are ideal for you and your hearing needs. Here are the solutions you will have to pick from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be hidden and also deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the ideal choice. But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall lifespan is usually shorter. And some of the most modern features are typically missing due to their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are custom molded to your ear canal, which makes them mostly hidden. They will typically contain more high-tech functions being a bit larger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be somewhat tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still fairly small). Even still, ITC models are ideal for people who require more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to sit completely in your outer ear. A “half shell” version fits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits totally inside your 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 sits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part goes behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The little tube that connects the two parts is still rather discrete. These devices are popular because they provide many amplification choices. These types are a good 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 similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the additional advantage of decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. This makes them suitable for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have trouble with high-frequency sounds). It isn’t a good option for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep flooding you with acronyms) are yet another alternative to think about. OTC hearing aids work okay 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. 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 decide to invest in, it’s always a smart plan to talk to us about what might work best for your particular needs.

Maintenance and repair

Of course, once you’ve taken all of the steps to pick out your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. This is, once again, like a car which also needs maintenance.

So how frequently will your hearing aids need to be assessed? In general, you should schedule a regular upkeep and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working order.

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 upkeep and a strong warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There’s no single best hearing aid. If you go to twelve different hearing specialists and ask for the “best” hearing aid, they may provide you with twelve different models.

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Some families 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 beforehand. Schedule a hearing assessment with us today!