If you’ve determined that you need to invest in hearing aids, what will you do next? Finding the correct hearing aids is an important choice since they will become such a major part of your life. High-quality hearing aids can be purchased from a hearing aid specialist, while the cheaper flimsy ones can be found only on the internet. Only you can decide how much you can afford to spend and what quality of hearing aids you are willing to invest in. When you are shopping for hearing aids, there are some sacrifices that you should be ok with, but is your hearing one of them?
Cheap Internet Knockoffs Are Not Really Hearing Aids
Internet hearing assistance devices are not really the bargain they would appear to be. They are not really efficient and they don’t work that well. What you save on the device itself, you end up losing because you have to continuously replace the batteries, and you will replace them a lot.
Amplifying sound is the only thing these low-quality devices do. You get several different technologies in a modern high-quality hearing aid which can be customized to your specific needs. You can decide to go cheap and buy one online but you will lose out on important features.
You need to appreciate your new hearing aids for what they are – an investment in your future. It’s great to try to find a bargain, but it’s not a good idea when it comes to something that affects every aspect of your life like your hearing. There might be other ways you can get hearing aids if you can’t afford them, so make sure you get the ones you really need.
Analog Vs. Digital
Digital hearing aids deliver better quality sound that is more reliable. If you run across analog hearing aids, move on and look at the digital units, instead.
If you shop at a reputable hearing aid seller, all of the hearing aids will be digital. It’s important to know analog devices are still out there, though, and to understand the difference between the two. Analog refers to the kind of audio signal the hearing aid gets and the quality of the sound. With analog hearing aids, the quality of the sound is very inconsistent.
Finding The Ideal Features
Features and style are the two elements of hearing aid shopping. You want features that make your life better in a style that is comfortable. A few common features to think about include:
- Wireless connectivity
- Synchronization
- Bluetooth
- Telecoils
- Noise reduction
- Direct audio input
- Remote controls
- Variable programming
- Directional microphones
- Rechargeable batteries
- Environmental noise control
Take Into Consideration The Different Styles
When you start researching hearing aids, you’ll find out that there are numerous styles available to you. Luckily, there are so many styles to pick from that finding a style that works for your situation is almost a guarantee. Some of the different styles are:
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Open Fit
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
- Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
fairly obvious description of each style is given by the names. BTE hearing aids consist of a piece that sits behind the ear. A clear piece of tubing attaches the BTE to an ear-mold which rests in the opening of the ear canal.
On the other hand, ITE hearing aids sit, you guessed it, inside of the ear. It’s a single unit that sits in the opening of the ear canal. Nothing attaches behind the ear. ITC indicates “in the canal” and they are very much like ITE’s but ITC’s go further into the ear canal so you can’t see them so much.
RIC devices and RIE devices have a “receiver in the canal” and a “receiver in the ear” respectively, which are then connected to a piece behind the ear. These hearing aids are less conspicuous than a BTE.
Instead of having ear-molds, open fit models, which are a type of BTE, have a little tube that goes into the ear canal. This style is a good choice for people who don’t like the feel of something inside their ear.
Your task is to go over each of these options and decide which of them is most important to you. As an example, if you use your phone or a computer regularly, you will want a device that has Bluetooth functionality. Rechargeable batteries save you money on replacement batteries and telecoil is effective if you have to listen to lectures or seminars a lot.
Lastly, Your Buying Options Should be Taken Into Consideration
A qualified retailer that has a free trial period and that will custom fit the device is the best place to purchase your new hearing aids. Having a chance to try your new hearing aids before you buy them will give you confidence that you are making the correct decision.
A good warranty will come with a quality hearing aid, make sure to look for that. What does it cover? Do you get a new hearing aid if something goes wrong or does the warranty only cover parts and maybe labor?
Schedule an appointment with a hearing professional for a checkup and hearing test before you purchase your hearing aids. Some changes in your hearing don’t call for purchasing hearing aids.