A Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

If you have been suspecting that you are having more trouble than ever before hearing the people in your life, it’s a good idea to address the issue as soon as possible. Many of us have heard the dangers to our cognitive, emotional, and physical health connected to unaddressed hearing loss. The good news is that most of these risks can be lowered or eliminated with the use of hearing aids. Of course, there are a lot of hearing aids on the market. So how do you know what the best ones for you are? Here are a few tips to make the process of finding the right hearing aids for you, a total breeze.

Identifying Your Hearing Issues

The first step to treating your hearing is accepting that you may have a hearing issue. Once you know your hearing ability this can help eliminate a lot of options. The problem is that many people don’t know they have a hearing loss for years before it becomes severe enough to even think about treatment. We recommend that you schedule annual hearing tests to track hearing ability and catch an impairment early. A hearing test will allow us to know you’re the nature of your hearing loss. It will help us understand what kind of hearing aids will amplify your hearing the best, based on your lifestyle and hearing needs.

Understanding Your Options

When you have your hearing tested, we can identify the softest noises and pitches you can hear. We will also interview you about your lifestyle, preexisting conditions, and family history to understand more about your hearing needs. If you are an active person who enjoys rigorous exercises, it will be in your nature to pick a pair of hearing aids that are sweat-resistant and suppress background noise, such as wind. If you struggle with arthritis in your hands, then a larger pair of hearing aids will help minimize dexterity issues.

Types of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are not all the same. Some types fit behind your ear, while others fit within the ear canal. Many people don’t want their hearing loss to be public knowledge to everyone they meet. This is why many enjoy discrete hearing aids which fit in the ear canal nearly out of sight. However, for many these tiny hearing aids can’t always produce enough power if their hearing loss is more pronounced. Ultimately, we are here to help you find a pair of hearing aids that addresses your specific type of hearing loss, which is comfortable while fitting your lifestyle and your budget.

The most common types of hearing aids are:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE)
• In-the-canal (ITC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
• In-the-ear (ITE)
• Receiver-in-canal (RIC)

We can help you find the best ones for you.

Special Features

Today’s hearing aids are more advanced and nuanced than the hearing aids of the past. Depending on your lifestyle and needs around hearing, you may enjoy the many options and features available in hearing aids today. For instance, background filtering can help people who work or play in crowded environments prioritize the sounds they want to be amplified. Other popular features include:

• Bluetooth connectivity: This allows you to wirelessly connect to your phone’s audio for media, GPS, and phone calls, as well as stereos and televisions.
• Battery rechargeability: Part of wearing hearing aids in the past is that you have to change the battery every couple of days. Now many offer the ability to recharge overnight, eliminating this menial task.

The Price of Healthy Hearing

Hearing aids are an investment in your mental, emotional, and physical health. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the best price possible for your hearing health. Let us know what you hope to spend on your hearing aids, and we can keep this in mind when navigating your choices. It’s important to remember that those in the workforce who struggle with unaddressed hearing loss earn significantly less than those with normal or treated health. The Better Hearing Institute found that on average those with untreated hearing loss earned $30,000 less annually. While hearing aids can range from $1,200 to $6,000 depending on features and quality, it’s important that ultimately this investment will save you more money than the initial cost of hearing aids. Consider this an investment in your total quality of life. Schedule an appointment today to find out more about how we can help you.