How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. Which means you will most likely do a lot of research ahead of time. You look at reviews, you assess prices, and you evaluate gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this amount of research. 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 sure it’s worth it!

You’ll be considering how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. Is there a specific type of vehicle you really enjoy? Do you require a lot of room to carry things around? How fast do you want your car to be?

Put another way, to get the most from your new car, you need to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same attitude you should have when choosing 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 delivers the most for your lifestyle.

The benefits 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 pretty great!

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most people, the advantages are more tangible than that. With a pair of hearing aids, you can remain 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 cool dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the cashier at the supermarket.

With all these benefits, it stands to reason that you’d begin to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You want to keep those benefits going!

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

There may be some individuals out there who would presume that the best way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to simply buy the most high priced device possible.

Hearing aids are definitely an investment. There’s a reason why some devices are expensive in the first place:

• Hearing aids are made to contain very sophisticated technologies, and they need to make those technologies as tiny as possible. That means you’re paying for a very potent technological package.
• 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 degree of your hearing loss and, well, how much you can spend!) Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Certainly! But that isn’t always dictated by how expensive the device was in the first place.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will require regular maintenance in order to continue working effectively. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your exact needs.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your options? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and types to pick from. We can help you figure out which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. But in general, 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 deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the best choice. The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. The small size also means you won’t get some of the most modern functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are specifically molded to fit your ear canal, which makes them mostly discrete. Because they’re a bit larger than CIC models, they may contain more high-tech features. These devices are still rather small and some of the functions can be a little hard to manipulate by hand. Still, ITC models are ideal for people who require more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits in your ear canal, it all sits 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 the perfect choice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This style of device has one part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a casing that sits behind your ear. The little tube that connects the two elements is still pretty discrete. 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): This is much like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit fits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the added advantage of reducing 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 hearing the device. If you have difficulty hearing higher frequencies but low-frequencies aren’t really an issue, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. Though it works well for many individuals, it won’t be a good option 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 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 advanced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your specific hearing needs which is an option generally not available with 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 maintenance

After you decide on the best hearing aid for your hearing requirements, taking care of it is essential. Just like your car needs oil changes now and then.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be assessed? In general, you should schedule a routine maintenance and cleaning appointment for your hearing aids every six-to-twelve months. By doing this you can be certain everything is in good working condition.

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 money! A good warranty and regular upkeep will help your hearing last as long as possible.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

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

Which hearing aids match your hearing loss needs will be the ones that are best for you. Just like with a vehicle, for some an SUV will be best, 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 finding the hearing aid that’s right for you if you are well informed ahead of time. Schedule a hearing test with us today!