How to Select the Right Hearing Aid

If you don’t take action, hearing loss can be a hard on your life. Thankfully, you can see an audiologist to treat this problem. Commonly, the best course of action is to get a hearing aid. These devices amplify all the sounds around you, making it easier for you to hear. Essentially, this gives you a mini microphone and speaker to fit in your ear. 

Believe it or not, but there are loads of hearing aid options out there. As a result, you must choose the right one for your needs. So, here are a few things to consider before you buy:

Consider the different styles

Firstly, you need to understand the different hearing aid styles available. Most people assume there’s just one type of hearing aid, but you’ll be surprised at the styles on offer. Here are the most common ones you’ll need to look at: 

In the ear (ITE)

An ITE hearing aid is made to fit in your ear. It will sit in the outer part of your ear, and you can get one that fills the whole area, or one that only fills the lower part. 

This type of hearing aid is proven to help with severe hearing loss, and it tends to be larger than some other varieties. It will still be small as it just fits in your ear. 

While ITE hearing aids are more visible, but they also have better battery life as they can accommodate a larger battery chamber than other varieties. 

In the canal (ITC)

ITC hearing aids are small devices that fit in your ear canal. Some of these hearing aids include parts that are outside of the ear canal, while more modern versions are entirely in the canal. 

The distinct advantage of these is that they’re less visible than ITE hearing aids. So, they’re perfect if you’re looking for something a bit discreet. They work best for moderate-to-mild hearing loss, but are not typically recommended for individuals with dexterity issues. Because they are so small, they can be difficult to operate and change the battery if you do not have proper eye-hand coordination.

Behind the ear (BTE)

The third type is the BTE hearing aid. This is almost the classic type of hearing aid that you see quite often. It hooks over your head with the device hiding behind it. There’s a tube fitted to an earmold that fits in your ear and transfers sound to it. 

These tend to be the biggest, which always means they can be equipped with a wide variety of features. You also get a lot of amplification with these, so they work well for severe and even profound hearing loss. 

Weigh up these three options and think about which one will suit you best. Some of you may be more inclined to choose one over another based-on comfort, price or convenience. 

Decide what features you need

The main aim of hearing aids is to amplify the sounds around you. But they also come with additional features. The more advanced this technology becomes; the more features are available. Here are some you can choose from: 

• Tinnitus masking
• Directional microphones
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Smart capabilities
• Wind-noise reduction

The list goes on and on, it depends on the specific hearing aid you’re looking at. Some may be absolutely essential. The best thing to do is to go through all the different features with your audiologist. They can explain all of them to you, and you decide which ones are critical or not. 

Understand your hearing loss

Before you look at any hearing aids, you need to understand your hearing loss. Some people have different hearing loss than others, which plays a significant role in dictating which hearing aids are the most suitable. For example, if your hearing loss is severe, then you may need to wear your hearing aids for longer than someone with mild hearing loss. You need something comfortable and designed to work for long hours. 

Your audiologist will conduct a hearing test to see the extent of your hearing loss. Not only that, but it also tells them the type of hearing loss you have. By understanding this, they can recommend the best hearing aids for you. 

Contact Adirondack Audiology for hearing aid help

It’s always worth seeing an audiologist for hearing aid help. If you’re looking for guidance or assistance, then please get in touch with us today. We can help you on every step of your hearing aid journey; from the initial examination through to choosing the perfect pair. Call us at (888) 347-5899 to see how we can help!