Not all hearing aids are created equal. With various possible styles, brands, and key features, it may be a bit of a daunting task to find the hearing aid that is best for you.
Others may not give a second thought to choosing their hearing aid, but here is why you should not be doing so — your device will be part of your day-to-day business and you will most probably be stuck with the device of your choosing, be it the right one or not. Remember, hearing aids are a significant purchase, so better make this worth your investment.
Having said this, you may want to follow our simple guide. Together with your hearing healthcare professional, it can be a significant help in your journey towards finding the perfect hearing aid fitting.
1. Assess your daily activities
Consider your workplace, how much you interact with others, and how long you plan to use your hearing aid everyday. This is probably one of the most important aspects you have to consider, as it may affect the features of the hearing aid you are looking for.
Do you work inside an office or are you usually out and about doing fieldwork? Do you interact more on a face-to-face basis or are you usually behind the phone talking to clients? These are just some factors that needs to be weighed first. Hearing aids come in different features. It is wise to pick an item that closely comes to your needs.
2. Understand hearing aid types
A quick search online and you will get an overview of the various types of hearing aids. Do you want it behind-the-ear? Or are you more keen on wearing a hearing aid that is almost invisible to eye? There are a lot of hearing devices available in the market and it can really be overwhelming to choose if you are not familiar with each one of them. Having a sense of all these will give you a headstart in choosing which style you truly prefer.
We made a more comprehensive post about this. To know more about the different types and styles of hearing aids, you may read this article.
3. Look out for these key features
As stated on the first part of this post, hearing aids are not created equal. Over the past few decades, abilities of hearing aids have vastly improved. When discussing features with your audiologist, it is good to be familiar with a few terms first so that your visit can be much more valuable.
- Batteries – the power source of the device. Hearing aid batteries come in various types, sizes, brands and quality. Since batteries are to be replaced every so often, factors like life span and cost should be put in consideration. You may be saving on the hearing aid, but the cost of battery replacement may be costlier in the long run.
- Feedback Suppression – this also is a key feature that you should not miss. Feedback suppression helps in preventing painful whistles or squeals, which usually happens when hearing aid does not fit well or the device gets too close to the phone.
- Wax Guard – a white plastic material that fits into the part of your hearing aid that is within the ear canal. The wax guard protects the device from ear wax build up. While truly useful, improper use of this material may lead the guard to end up inside your ear. A good discussion with your audiologist on how to prevent such incident should also be your priority.
- Smartphone Readiness – Smartphone-readiness is also one of the key features you would want to know more about. This feature allows you to connect your hearing aid to your mobile phone, offering you better hearing and a more convenient experience.
4. Fine tuning your hearing aid
Once you’ve finally decided which device you are most likely buying, you may want to consider fine-tuning it make a more suitable device out of it. Audiologists are available to assist you on adjusting your device to make it more comfortable and to better fit it to your hearing requirements. These professionals are more equipped to do this as they can provide you with a series of tests to identify the level of sound, the fit, and the programming that is right for your hearing aid device.
These are a just few of things you need to consider to help you choose the right hearing aid. To better discuss your needs, we suggest setting up an appointment with your trusted hearing healthcare professional. Schedule your appointment with our expert audiologists here at Listening Lab today!
About The Listening Lab
Listening Lab is a home-grown company whose mission is to help our clients restore their hearing to enjoy the life that they desire. Experiencing hearing loss can be detrimental to one’s quality of life. Hence we commit to providing high-quality hearing solutions.
Our hearing solutions include hearing tests and treatment and prescribing hearing aids. Clients may come to get their hearing checked, and we will assess whether hearing aids are required.
If hearing aids are required, clients can choose from a variety of the best hearing aid brands we provide. Each of the products offers unique features that complement daily use and perform well in helping our clients enjoy the life that they desire.
