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 great deal of research ahead of time. You take a good look at things like gas mileage, overall price, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this amount of research. For most individuals who aren’t rich, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. 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 like? Do you need a lot of space to carry supplies around? How much power do you want to feel when you press down that gas pedal?

So you need to have a close look at all of your options and make some informed choices in order to get the most out of your purchase. And that’s the same mindset you should have when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment even though they cost a lot less than a new car. Identifying which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

Hearing aid advantages

The example of the benefits of investing in hearing aids can be generally compared with the example of buying a car. Hearing aids are a great investment!

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

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!

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

Some individuals may think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the highest-priced device.

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

• Hearing aids are made to contain very advanced technologies, and they have to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re purchasing an extremely potent technological package.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Especially if you take care of them.

But the most costly model won’t automatically be your best fit or work the best. How severe your hearing loss is and, of course, your budget are a couple of the variables to consider. Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But the cost of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

In order to keep your hearing aids in good working condition, as with any other investment, they will need routine care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be programmed to your exact needs.

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

What choices do you have? You’ll be able to pick from several different styles and types. We can help you identify which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. Here are the choices you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These types of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and tend to be very discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. The small size also means you don’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 slightly larger than CIC models, they may contain more high-tech functions. Some of these functions can be somewhat tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still rather small). If you want your hearing aid to be discrete but also contain some advanced features, this style will be ideal.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These devices are also molded to your ears. No part of the hearing aid sits inside your ear canal, it all fits in your outer ear. Two types 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 choice.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This type of hearing aid has one part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a housing that sits behind your ear. The pieces are connected by a little tube, but for the most part, it’s fairly non-visible. These hearing aids are popular because they provide many amplification choices. 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 model, 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 decreasing things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re using the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. This makes them a good fit for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). It’s not a good choice for all types of hearing loss, but it does work well for many individuals.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Another possibility to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. The difficulty is that OTC hearing aids are sort of like OTC medications, they work okay in a general sense. But if your hearing loss warrants a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices might fall a bit short. Prescription hearing aids can be fine-tuned to your specific hearing needs which is an option generally not available with 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

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, again, like a car which also requires upkeep.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be assessed? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working condition.

It’s also not a bad idea to be fairly familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some money when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how can 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 isn’t a single best all-time hearing aid. Every hearing specialist might have a different model that they think is the best.

The secret is to choose the best hearing aid for you and for your needs. Just like with an automobile, 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 is true for hearing aids.

But the more you know beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to find the hearing aids that are perfect for you. Schedule a hearing exam with us today!