Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse buy. So a lot of research is most likely the first thing you do. You check out reviews, you compare prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) This amount of research is logical! For most individuals who aren’t wealthy, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

You’ll be considering how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. What type of vehicle do you enjoy? How much room do you require for weekly supplies? How much pep do you want to feel when you press down that accelerator?

So you should take a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed decisions so that you can get the most from your investment. And that’s the same attitude you should take when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment although they cost a lot less than a new car. And getting the most from your investment means determining which devices work best, in general, as well as what provides the most for your lifestyle.

The advantages of hearing aids

In just 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 general way. Hearing aids are pretty great!

Yes, they help you hear, but for most individuals, the benefits are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can remain involved with the people in your life. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a tale about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandkids, and engaging in conversations with friends.

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

Are higher quality hearing aids always more expensive?

There might 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 purchase the most high priced device they can.

And, to be certain, hearing aids can be an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids tend to be costly:

• Hearing aids are made to contain very advanced technologies, and they need to make those technologies as tiny as possible. That means you’re getting a very potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also designed to last for quite a while. Particularly if you take care of them.

But the most expensive model won’t automatically be your best fit or work the best. How profound your hearing loss is and, of course, what you can afford are a couple of the factors to think about. Some hearing aids will undoubtedly last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding variable.

As with any other investment, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to continue working effectively. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your ears and calibrated for your specific level of hearing loss.

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have a number of different styles and kinds to select from. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be ideal for your hearing needs. But in general, here’s what you’ll have to select from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These types of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are generally quite discrete (perfect for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. And some of the most sophisticated functions tend to be 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 hidden. Because they’re a bit larger than CIC models, they may contain more high-tech functions. These devices are still pretty small and some of the functions can be a little tricky to manipulate by hand. Still, ITC models are ideal for people who require more features but still want to be discreet.
• 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 styles are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). These hearing aids are more exposed but can include sophisticated and powerful microphones, making them an excellent choice 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 sits 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 hearing aids offer many amplification choices making them quite popular. When you want the best of both visibility and power, these devices will be the perfect choice.
• 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 added advantage of cutting down on things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to let low-frequency sounds 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 problems 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

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep inundating you with acronyms) are yet another option to think about. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But if your hearing loss warrants a pair of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices may fall a bit short. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is a feature generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

The best way to find out what type of hearing aid will be best for you, you should consult with us.

Repair and upkeep

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to select your perfect hearing aid type, you need to take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes now and then.

So how frequently 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 a chance to be certain everything’s 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! A good warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

There is no single greatest all-time hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they think is the best.

The key is to choose the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. Some people will go with a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. It all just depends, and the same is true for hearing aids.

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 assessment with us today!