Getting The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. Which means you will probably do a ton of research first. 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. You’re about to drop tens of thousands of dollars on something and spend years paying for it (unless, again, you are really wealthy). 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. What style of vehicle do you want? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How much pep do you want to feel when you push down that gas pedal?

So you should take a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed decisions so that you can get the most out of your investment. And that’s the same mindset you should take when selecting your hearing aids. They may not cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they are an investment. Identifying which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

The advantages of hearing aids

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

The advantages of hearing aids, for most individuals, are more tangible than just helping you hear. With a set of hearing aids, you can stay 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 at the dinner table with your grandkids, and engaging in conversations with friends.

With all these benefits, it stands to reason 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 costly?

There might be some individuals out there who would presume that the most effective way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to simply purchase the most expensive device they can.

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

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very small and very sophisticated. So the package you’re paying for is very technologically potent.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. If you take good care of them this is particularly true.

But that doesn’t mean the most costly option will automatically work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, of course, what you can afford are a couple of the factors 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.

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

Get the correct 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 types to choose from. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. But generally, here’s what you’ll 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 trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. The small size also means you won’t get some of the most sophisticated functions.
• 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 little larger than CIC models, they may include more high-tech functions. Some of these features can be a little tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still rather small). If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also have some sophisticated functions, this style will be appropriate.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the device sits in your ear canal, it all sits 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). If you have complex hearing issues or need more powerful noise control, the more advanced technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids a great option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a sense, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of device has one bit that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a casing that goes behind your ear. The two parts are connected by a small tube, but for the most part, it’s pretty non-visible. These hearing aids are popular because they offer many amplification choices. 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 model, the speaker part fits in the ear canal but they are otherwise similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of reducing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will 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 a problem, 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?

Another option to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. OTC hearing aids work okay in general, much like OTC medications. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you need if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be fine-tuned to your particular hearing needs which is an option generally not provided by OTC hearing aids.

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

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 upkeep.

So how frequently will your hearing aids need to be checked? Generally, you should schedule a regular maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. This gives you an opportunity to be certain everything’s working effectively and as it should!

You should also get 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 cash! So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good maintenance and a strong warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

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

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. Just like with a vehicle, for some an SUV will be the right choice, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. It all just depends, and the same goes for hearing aids.

But you will have an easier time choosing the hearing aid that’s best for you if you are well informed ahead of time. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!