Have you just been diagnosed with hearing loss? It can be a difficult reality to face, but the good news is that once you do, you have the opportunity to make changes in your life to improve your hearing. While hearing loss is a permanent condition, it’s important for your emotional, physical, and cognitive health to address your loss with hearing aids. These tiny electronic devices amplify the sounds around you that you’d otherwise struggle to hear, based on your hearing exam. If you are considering your first pair, many people report feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. There are a wide range of styles and features to choose from. The good news is that we are here to help. Here are four things to consider when choosing your hearing aids.
- Identify must-have features
Choosing hearing aids is kind of a big deal. Ideally, you’ll be wearing them from the moment you wake till the time you go to sleep for years to come. This means you are going to want to find a pair which you can truly live with. Identify what you truly want to get out of your everyday hearing journey. Today’s hearing aids have come a long way in the past 20 years, now packed with options for features which may impact the quality of your daily life.
It may feel overwhelming to choose features for your hearing aids but fortunately we are here to help. In addition to your hearing exam, we will also interview you about your daily life and listening habits. This can help us recommend features that may be best for you. For instance, if you are a musician or music lover, then we can recommend music enhancing features. If you often attend crowded events such as church or shows, we can recommend settings which can improve your experience. Today there are Bluetooth options, tinnitus masking features and even machine learning to automatically switch listening programs based on your location as you go about your day! Who knows where hearing aids will go next, as they are already so amazing!
- Choose a style
Hearing aids come in many styles including behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) and in the canal (ITC). What style is best for you is a combination of preference as well as your hearing ability. While some may prefer a hearing aid that is tiny and discrete, it may not provide the power you need if your hearing loss is more severe. In addition, if you struggle with dexterity issues due to arthritis, smaller models may give you trouble when cleaning them, adjusting them or changing out batteries.
- Consider a rechargeable device
While we are on the topic of batteries, most replaceable batteries last three to five days. Many people become accustomed to carrying extra batteries with them, so they’ll always be prepared. However, for many, changing the batteries in a device is the most inconvenient aspect of wearing a hearing aid. The good news is that rechargeable batteries are becoming more and more the standard of hearing aids.
The lore of these is that instead of having to change out your battery every couple of days, you simply take them out, clean them and plug them in overnight as you would a cellphone. When you wake up, they will be charged up and ready to help you hear through another full day!
- Assess your lifestyle
This may seem redundant, but we can’t stress the importance of finding a hearing aid that will fit you and your lifestyle. The key to success with hearing aids is to find one that works for you, so you wear them as much as possible. We are here to help you get the best fit, style and features for you so it won’t even be a question as to wanting to put them in at the start of the day. Most people find that in no time at all it may even be difficult to imagine your everyday life without them.
Finding the best hearing aid for you
Whether this is your first set of hearing aids or you are ready for an upgrade, we are here for you to help find the best option to suit your hearing needs day after day! To find out more, schedule a hearing exam now.