How to Get The Most From Your Hearing Aids

If you’re not very wealthy, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. Which means you will probably do a ton of research first. You check out reviews, you assess prices, and you consider gas mileage. (You’re on Google a lot.) It is sensible to do this amount of research. For most people who aren’t rich, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. So you want to make sure it’s worth it!

You’ll be considering how your purchase best fits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. What type of vehicle do you like? Do you need a lot of room to carry supplies around? How much power do you need to feel when you press down that gas pedal?

Put another way, to get the most from your new car, you need to assess your options and make some decisions. And that’s the same mindset you should take when selecting your hearing aids. They’re still an investment even though they cost much less than a new car. Determining which device will best fit your lifestyle and which device works best overall, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

The example of the benefits of buying hearing aids can be generally compared with the example of purchasing a car. Hearing aids are a great investment!

Yes, they help you hear, but for most individuals, the benefits are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can remain involved with the people in your life. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a tale about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandkids, and enjoying conversations with friends.

With all these benefits, it makes sense that you’d begin to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You don’t want those benefits to go away.

Do more expensive hearing aids work better?

There may be some people out there who would presume that the best way to make your hearing aid work better and last longer is to just buy the most expensive device they can.

Hearing aids are definitely an investment. There’s a reason why some hearing aids are expensive in the first place:

• Hearing aids are designed to include very advanced technologies, and they need to make those technologies as small as possible. So the package you’re paying for is very technologically potent.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Particularly if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will automatically work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the variables to consider. Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But that isn’t always dictated by how costly the device was in the first place.

In order to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working condition, as with any other purchase, they will require routine care and maintenance. What’s more, your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your ears and adjusted for your specific level of hearing loss.

Get the appropriate hearing aids for your hearing loss

So, what are your choices? You’ll be able to pick from several different types and styles. You can work with us to figure out which ones are the right choice for you and your hearing needs. Here are the choices you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): For people who want their hearing aids to be discrete and also deliver high-quality sound, these hearing aids will be the ideal choice. The only problem is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. The small size also means you don’t get some of the most sophisticated functions.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly discrete because they are molded to your ear canal. They will typically have more high-tech functions being a bit larger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be a bit tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still fairly small). Even still, ITC models are great for individuals who require more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This type of hearing aid is molded to sit completely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version sits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits completely inside your ear. If you have complex hearing problems or need more powerful noise control, the more sophisticated technology and larger microphones will make these hearing aids a great option.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This style of hearing aid has one bit that fits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but transfers all of the bulky electronics to a casing that sits behind your ear. The small tube that connects the two elements is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids provide many amplification choices making them quite popular. These kinds are a great compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this model, the speaker part sits in the ear canal but they are otherwise similar to BTE models. They have the advantage of minimizing wind noise and are generally less visible.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids tend to allow low-frequency sounds to enter the ear even while you’re using the device. This makes them suitable for individuals who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have trouble with high-frequency sounds). It’s not a good choice for all forms of hearing loss, but it does work well for many people.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Another option to think about is OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your specific hearing needs which is a feature generally not available with OTC hearing aids.

The best way to find out what kind of hearing aid will be best for you, you should talk with us.

Repair and maintenance

Of course, once you’ve taken all of the steps to select your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes now and again.

So, now you’re thinking: how frequently should my hearing aids be checked? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. By doing this you can be sure everything is in good working condition.

It’s also a good idea to be fairly familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some cash when you are aware of what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good maintenance and a great warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There’s no single best hearing aid. If you go to see twelve different hearing specialists and ask for the “best” hearing aid, they might provide you with twelve different models.

The secret is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. Some people will go with a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. The same goes with hearing aids, it all depends on your specific situation.

But the more you know beforehand and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to get the hearing aids that are ideal for you. Schedule a hearing test with us today!