Choosing the Right Hearing Aid
If you are finding out about hearing aids, it's probably because you have noticed a change in your hearing. Hearing aids can make a big improvement in your quality of life. Today’s hearing aids are like mini-computers to help improve the frequencies of sound you hear as well as amplify that sound. Here are four tips to help choose the right hearing aid.
1. Visit An Audiologist
You will need to have a comprehensive hearing test prior to
purchasing hearing aids. An audiologist is a trained professional with an advanced degree who performs a physical examination of your ears along with several hearing tests. He or she can evaluate the reasons why your hearing has changed and determine how best to make improvements, offer counseling and guidance.
2. Research The Different Styles Of Hearing Aids
There are four common styles of hearing aids and each has its benefits. They are: invisible-in-canal (IIC), in-the-ear canal (ITC), in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. The first device, the IIC, is so small it sits inside the ear canal and can’t be seen. ITC and ITE styles sit in the inside of your outer ear and offer more features (because they are larger). BTE hearing aids may be the most familiar – these sit behind the ear with a tube that runs over the top of the ear. At the end of the tube is a microphone that is inserted in the ear canal. Each style offers benefits and your audiologist can discuss details with you.
3. Ask About A Trial Period
You can usually get a hearing aid with a trial period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it's right for you.
4. Think About Your Lifestyle and Needs
These different styles of hearing aids have many features that may provide advantages to your lifestyle. There are additional features that can help with work or hobbies, such as waterproof hearing aids, wireless streaming to connect to phones and digital music players, or sound generators to help mask tinnitus (ringing in the ears).Ask whether the hearing aid you've chosen is capable of increased power so that it will still be useful if your hearing loss gets worse. Hearing aids do not function indefinitely, but they should last about five years.
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