What to Shop For When Picking Out Hearing Aids

What is the next move when you’ve realized that you need to get hearing aids? Finding the right hearing aids is an important choice since they will become such a major part of your life. Quality hearing aids can be purchased from a hearing aid specialist, but the cheaper flimsy ones can be found only on the internet. If you really think that you can get a quality device for less money from the internet, then the sacrifice is how well you hear, and that’s your choice. When shopping for hearing aids, what sacrifices are you willing to make.

Cheap Internet Imitations Are Not Actually Hearing Aids

Cheap hearing assistance devices are not really the bargain they seem to be. They don’t function very well or very efficiently. The money you save on the device itself, you lose by having to constantly replace the batteries, and you will replace them a lot.

The only feature that these cheaper devices have is sound amplification. Customization to your exact needs can be accomplished with the integrated technologies found inside of a modern high-quality digital hearing aid. Several significant features will be sacrificed if you decide to purchase a cheap online device.

Your new hearing aids are an investment in your future and you need to see them that way. It’s great to try to save some money, but it’s not a good idea when it involves something that affects every facet of your life like your hearing. Be sure to get the hearing aids you really need. Even if you can’t afford them there may be other solutions.

Analog Vs. Digital

Digital hearing aids deliver higher quality sound that is more reliable. Analog units are outdated and are not worth considering.

Reputable sellers don’t even have analog hearing aids at this time. It’s worthwhile to recognize analog devices are still out there, though, and to educate yourself about the difference between the two. Low-quality analog signals are what the older out-dated hearing aids work with. Analog hearing aids have some major problems with consistent sound quality.

Choosing The Ideal Features

When you go looking for hearing aids consider the two aspects which are features and style. You want features that make your life easier in a style that is comfortable. A few common features to consider include:

• Bluetooth
• Environmental noise control
• Directional microphones
• Rechargeable batteries
• Variable programming
• Synchronization
• Telecoils
• Noise reduction
• Remote controls
• Direct audio input
• Wireless connectivity

Take Into Consideration The Different Styles

When you start researching hearing aids, you’ll find out that there are a lot of styles available to you. Thankfully, there are so many styles to choose from that finding a style which works for your needs is almost guaranteed. The various styles of hearing aids include:

• Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
• Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
• In-the-Ear (ITE)
• Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
• Open Fit
• In-the-Ear (ITE)

A pretty good definition of each style is provided by the names. BTE means “behind the ear” and that’s exactly where the piece goes. A clear piece of tubing connects the BTE to an ear-mold which rests in the opening of the ear canal.

As is apparent by its name, ITE devices go “in the ear”. It’s a single unit that sits in the opening of the ear canal. There is nothing that goes behind the ear. ITC devices are very similar but go deeper inside the ear, making them less visible.

RIC and RIE, as the name indicates, have a receiver unit that rests in the ear and connects by a wire to a piece behind it. These hearing aids are less conspicuous than a BTE.

Finally, open fit units are BTE devices but rather than connecting to an ear-mold, a tiny tube goes into the ear canal. If you don’t like the feeling of having something stuck inside your ear, this style is a smart choice for you.

Looking at all of these options, it’s time to choose which style and options will best fit your needs. As an example, if you use your phone or a computer regularly, you will probably 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 Considered

A qualified retailer that has a free trial period and offers custom fitting is the best place to buy your new hearing aids. Having the opportunity to try your new hearing aids before you purchase them will give you confidence that you are making the best decision.

A good quality hearing aid has a good warranty so be sure to look into that as well. What kind of coverage does it come with? 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 buy your hearing aids. Not all changes to your hearing call for purchasing hearing aids.