Following your check-up to establish that you are now eligible to receive a hearing aid, the next hurdle is deciding which one to purchase and which one to keep. Fortunately for you, we have created this post to make it easy to choose the most appropriate one.
Let’s get started.
Realities you need to know before wearing hearing aids
You may have the excitement of finally getting to hear again, and you have all the reason to! However, your doctor will tell you to have realistic expectations. This is because whether you like it or not, it is never going to be the same, especially if you lost your hearing rather than be born without it.
The other realities that you have to make peace with are:
It will take time to get used to the hearing aids
Just like a new shoe needs a few steps to get used to, hearing aids will take a while to get used to. Especially if you have an advanced modern hearing aid, it will mean that you walk reading the manual over and over so that you know how to use it best. Sometimes you may turn the volume too high, and sometimes, you may miss some important info since the volume is lower.
This is expected, so do not fret. With practice, you will learn all you need to learn and grasp.
Different locations: different settings
Unlike the natural ear, hearing aids need various settings in various environments. This is something you need to get used to. You will have to master the settings best for a concert, class, or busy street. Getting it right will save you annoying headaches that may arise due to the wrong settings. Here is where a hearing aid with programmable saved settings comes in to assist.
You must go for periodic check-ups
Just like any other medical gear, regular maintenance at the doctor is a must. The doctor assesses if the hearing aid needs some thorough cleaning, battery change, or any other significant fixes. And if you need s replacement, it is during these sessions that your hearing is tested, and the next implant is determined. Yet again, you can refer to this piece to get what you want.
Consider the hearing aid features
When used in conjunction with your hearing aids, the following optional features can enhance your ability to perceive sounds in particular situations:
Batteries that can be recharged
Some hearing aids feature rechargeable batteries, whereas others do not. This can make maintenance more straightforward for you because it eliminates the need to replace the battery on a regular basis.
Noise reduction
The majority of hearing aids are equipped with some form of noise reduction. The amount of noise reduction varies depending on the application. Some models also include wind noise reduction, which is helpful in social gatherings.
Telecoils
When chatting on a telephone that is compatible with telecoils, they make it much easier to hear what is being said. The telecoil suppresses the sounds in your surroundings while simultaneously picking up the audio from a hearing-aid compatible cellular handset. Telecommunication coils can also make sounds from public induction loop systems, which can be found in some cathedrals and cinemas, letting you listen to a speaker, a performance, or a movie more clearly.
Microphones that point in a specific direction
These mics are positioned on the hearing aid to enable increased reception of sounds originating from in front of you while also reducing the pickup of noises coming from behind or alongside you to a certain extent. Some earplugs can concentrate their reception in a single direction. When you’re in a setting with a lot of additional noise, directional mics can significantly enhance your ability to hear well.
Remote controls
The remote control for some hearing aids allows you to alter the functions without actually touching the earpiece itself. Some implants are connected wirelessly to a smartphone, and some cochlear implants feature a smartphone application that enables the mobile phone to be used as a controller.
Wireless connectivity
Hearing aids are becoming increasingly capable of communicating wirelessly with some Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as smartphones, media players, laptops, and TVs, among other things. To make a phone call or other signal and transfer it to your hearing aid, you may have to use an interim device such as a Bluetooth receiver.
Synchronization
The implants can be programmed to work in tandem so that changes made to one earpiece, such as volume control or program changes, are mirrored in the second hearing aid, giving the individual wearing two hearing aids additional control.
Direct audio input and programmable settings
This function enables you to connect an audio source such as a tv, a laptop, or a music device through a wire to your computer. Some hearing aids can store many pre-programmed settings for different listening situations and places. This feature makes personalization easier for you.
Look into the style that fits you best
There are various styles of hearing aids that you may consider having. So here are the styles plus a bit about what they offer you.
In the canal
A made-to-order in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid partially fits the inner ear. Individuals with moderate or mild hearing impairment may find the best solution from this type of hearing aid.
In the ear
A custom-made in-the-ear (ITE) earpiece is available in two designs: one that encompasses the entire bowl-shaped part of your external full shell ear and one that simply fills the bottom half. Both come with directional microphones and are ideal for people with severe and moderate hearing impairment.
The completely in the canal hearing aids
This hearing device is in-the-canal and it is designed to fit in your inner ear. It helps all persons alongside the hearing impairment spectrum.
Behind the ear
A BTE is placed behind the ear lobe and clasps go above. The hearing aid is coupled to a customized earpiece dubbed an earmould that slides in your inner ear through a tube. This form of hearing aid is excellent for patients of all stages and with nearly any degree of hearing impairment.
Receiver in the canal or in the ear
Instead of tubing, the RIC, the device behind the external ear shell, is linked to the transmitters or receivers via a tiny cable.
Open fit
The “receiver-in-the-canal” device is adapted into an open-fitting hearing aid. A unit, like most hearing aids, is worn behind the ear and is connected to a receiver inside the ear by a wire. The sounds are delivered into the ear canal via the speaker wire. This design opens the ear canal wide, allowing low-frequency vibrations to pass freely while the earpiece boosts high-frequency vibrations. Individuals with decent low-frequency sensitivity and slight to moderate high-frequency hearing damage will benefit from this approach.
Bottom line
Hearing aids are just as crucial since they help you lead a life with no hurdles. When you can hear, you can be part of a team, take care of yourself, learn in a lecture hall, and enjoy the music at that concert.
But to do all these, having the best hearing aid is non-negotiable. We hope that after reading this piece, you now have somewhere to refer to when you are selecting what to use.
