How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

If you aren’t really rich, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. So a great deal of research is most likely the first thing you do. You take a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this amount of research. For most people who aren’t rich, it will take a while to pay off the thousands of dollars you’re about to spend. So you want to be certain it’s worth it!

Not only do you consider the objective factors (gas mileage, safety, etc), but you’ll also think about best fits for your lifestyle. Is there a particular style 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 out of your new car, you have to examine your options and make some choices. 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. Determining which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most out of your investment.

The benefits of hearing aids

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

Yes, they help your hearing, but for most people, the advantages are more tangible than that. 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 at the dinner table, listen to your grandkids tell you about cool dinosaurs, and converse with the cashier at the supermarket.

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

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

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.

And, to be sure, hearing aids are an investment. There’s a reason why some hearing aids are costly in the first place:

• Hearing aids are designed to include very state-of-the-art technologies, and they have 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 a long time. If you take good care of them this is particularly true.

But the most costly model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. There are lots of factors to consider (including the extent of your hearing loss and, well, your budget!) Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But that isn’t always determined by how costly the device was in the first place.

As with any other investment, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to continue working properly. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be calibrated to your specific needs.

Get the proper hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? You’ll be able to choose from numerous different styles and types. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be best for your hearing needs. But generally, here’s what you’ll have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are typically very discrete (great for individuals who want to hide their hearing aids). The only difficulty is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan and battery life. The small size also means you don’t get some of the most modern functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to your ear canal. They will often include more high-tech functions being a little bigger than CIC models. These devices are still fairly small and some of the features can be a little difficult to manipulate by hand. Even still, ITC models are great 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 device 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 entirely in your 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 issues.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits 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 elements is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids offer many amplification options making them quite popular. These kinds are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is a lot like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker part sits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of decreasing 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 a problem, these hearing aids will be a good fit for you. Though it works well for many people, 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 flooding 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 need if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. In general, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically calibrated to your hearing in the same way that prescription hearing aids can.

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

Repair and upkeep

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

So how frequently will your hearing aids need to be checked? In general, you should schedule a routine upkeep 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’s not can save you some cash! 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.

So… what’s the best hearing aid?

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

The secret is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. Just like with an automobile, for some an SUV will be the right choice, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. The same is true for hearing aids, it just depends on your specific situation.

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

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