How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse buy. Which means you will most likely do a great deal of research ahead of time. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. Google is your best friend these days. This level of research makes sense! 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 certain your investment is well spent.

Not only do you consider the objective factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also give thought to best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a particular style of vehicle you really like? How much room do you require for weekly supplies? How fast do you want your car to be?

So you need to take a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed decisions so that you can get the most out of your purchase. And when you’re selecting new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same attitude. They’re still an investment even though they cost a lot 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 discuss the benefits of a car in a very general way, you can also discuss the benefits of hearing aids in a similarly broad way. Hearing aids are pretty great!

The advantages of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than simply helping you hear. Staying connected with your friends and family will be a lot easier with a good pair of hearing aids. You’ll be able to better follow conversations during dinner, listen to your grandkids tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the cashier at the supermarket.

It’s only natural that you would want to make your hearing aids last as long as you can given all of the benefits. You want to keep those benefits going!

Do more expensive 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 simply buy the most expensive device they can.

And, to be sure, hearing aids are an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids might be costly:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very tiny and very sophisticated. So the package you’re purchasing is extremely technologically potent.
• They’re made to be long-lasting. Particularly if you take care of them.

But the most costly model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. There are a lot of factors to think about (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But that isn’t always dictated by how expensive 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 call for regular care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will have to be tuned to your ears and calibrated for your specific level of hearing loss.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

What choices do you have? You’ll be able to choose from numerous different types and styles. 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): These types of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are usually 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. And some of the most modern functions are typically missing because of their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are specifically molded to your ear canal, which makes them mostly discrete. Because they’re a bit larger than CIC models, they may include more high-tech features. Some of these features can be a bit tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still rather small). If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also include some sophisticated functions, this type will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits in your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two types are available (full shell, which fits your whole ear, or half shell, which sits in the lower ear). These hearing aids are more visible but can contain advanced and powerful microphones, making them an excellent option for noise control or complex hearing conditions.
• 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 two parts are connected by a little tube, but for the most part, it’s pretty non-visible. These hearing aids provide many amplification choices making them quite popular. These kinds are a good compromise between power and visibility.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this model, the speaker part fits in the ear canal but they are otherwise a lot like BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the added benefit of reducing 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. If you have problems hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really an issue, these hearing aids will be a great fit for you. It’s not a good choice for all forms of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

What 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 it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically tuned to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

No matter what type of hearing aid you choose to invest in, it’s always a good idea to talk to us about what will work best for your particular needs.

Repair and maintenance

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to select your perfect hearing aid type, you need to take care of it. This is, once again, like a car which also needs maintenance.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? Generally, you should schedule a regular upkeep and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working condition.

You should also get familiar with your warranty. You will save some cash when you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is usually simple: good maintenance and a great 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 might provide you with a dozen different models.

The key is to choose the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. Some families will opt for a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. The same goes with hearing aids, it all depends on your situation.

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

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