Like other medical devices, hearing aids do not come with a “one size fits all” option. In order to find the best hearing aids, it is crucial to consider the following points while considering to buy hearing aids for yourself / your family members
Your audiologist or hearing aid specialist
Getting hearing aids for the first time is an important life transition. Having a hearing healthcare professional that you trust and who carefully considers your needs will help alleviate any anxiety or confusion during the process. In fact, it has been noted that the difference between a comfortable hearing with hearing aids has lot to do with how good your hearing aid specialist is in terms of knowledge, competence and understanding your needs.
Your priorities
In order to find the best technology suited for you, a consideration of your lifestyle and hearing needs will help you find the best hearing aid for your loss. What do you want the hearing aid to do for you? Are you active and social or do you tend to stay home? Do you go to a temple or other gatherings where there is a projected sound? Do you enjoy watching television or talking on the phone? Take note of your answers and be sure to share them with your hearing healthcare professional. Sharing your lifestyle with your hearing aid specialist helps him to find the most suitable technology for you.
Levels of comfort
In order to fully enjoy new hearing aids, the user will benefit most when the hearing aid itself fits comfortably around and inside the ear canal. A hearing healthcare professional can assist you in choosing the safest and most effective hearing aids for your specific needs. You may also want to consider the hand dexterity that you currently have to determine which kind of form factor of hearing aids will be most suitable for you.
Battery usage
Batteries are an additional cost and responsibility to continue successfully using your hearing aids. Each hearing aid style and your daily amount of hearing aid use will determine how frequently the batteries need to be changed. Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) hearing aids have the lowest disposable battery life lasting between 3-7 days, while Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids can last between 9-20 days. Rechargeable batteries also exist in some hearing aid models and require an overnight charge to power the hearing aids throughout the day. These days most of the hearing aid companies have come out with “rechargeable hearing aids” which truly hassle-free for senior citizens, eliminating the need for batteries altogether.
Trial periods
After you receive a recommended hearing aid model, ask about the trial period. Many hearing aid specialist has some form of trial period policy, make sure to check with them.
Additional features
Many new hearing aid models come equipped with Bluetooth technology to allow you to easier connect with televisions and cell phones. Other models may offer telecoil and directional microphones to assist in noisier settings. Consider your hearing needs and priorities to select the features you want. These days, we have hearing aids which are smart and make life convenient for seniors while connecting to iPhones directly.
Total price
The total price of a hearing aid may include future servicing by your hearing aid provider. Ensure you are comfortable with the services you are getting in comparison to the price.
