You already know that you need to get hearing aids, so what now? Hearing aids are soon to become an essential part of your life so purchase wisely. High-quality hearing aids can be purchased from a hearing aid professional, while the cheaper flimsy ones can only be found on the internet. It’s up to you to decide what you want from the device and how much you can afford to spend. When 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 Actually Hearing Aids
Internet hearing assistance devices are not really the bargain they seem to be. They are not really efficient and they don’t work that well. Batteries will be expensive if you need to replace them constantly.
These low-quality devices will help amplify sound, which is the basic function of hearing aids but that’s all they do. Customization to your specific 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 get a cheap online device.
Your new hearing aids are an investment in your future and you need to understand them that way. If you can’t hear well it will make your life very difficult and may end up costing you money, so it’s a bad choice to go cheap when you buy hearing aids. There might be other ways that you can get hearing aids if you can’t afford them, so make sure you get what you really need.
Analog Vs. Digital
A better quality, more reliable sound is delivered by digital hearing aids and they’re more consistent also. If you come across analog hearing aids, move on and look at the digital units, instead.
If you go to a reputable hearing aid seller, all of the models will be digital. You need to be careful because analog devices are still in existence if you don’t know what to look for. Low-quality analog signals are what the older hearing aids process. With analog hearing aids, the quality of the sound is very inconsistent.
Choosing The Ideal Features
There are really two sides to hearing aid shopping: features and style. You want a comfortable style that provides features that make your life better. A few standard features to think about include:
- Bluetooth
- Telecoils
- Noise reduction
- Directional microphones
- Rechargeable batteries
- Remote controls
- Environmental noise control
- Variable programming
- Wireless connectivity
- Synchronization
- Direct audio input
Take Into Consideration The Different Styles
There are lots of styles available, as you will realize when you get started researching hearing aids. Luckily, there are so many styles to choose from that finding a style which works for your situation is almost a guarantee. The various styles of hearing aids include:
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- Open Fit
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
- Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
fairly obvious definition of each style is given by the names. BTE hearing aids incorporate a piece that sits behind the ear. A clear piece of tubing attaches the BTE to an ear-mold which sits in the opening of the ear canal.
Alternatively, ITE pieces sit, as you may have guessed, inside of the ear. It’s a single unit that sits in the opening of the ear canal. Nothing attaches behind the ear. ITC devices are very similar but they go deeper into the ear, making them harder to see.
RIC devices and RIE devices have a “receiver in the canal” and a “receiver in the ear” respectively, which are then connected to a unit behind the ear. These hearing aids are not as obvious as a BTE.
Instead of having ear-molds, open fit units, which are a kind of BTE, have a little tube that goes into the ear canal. This format is a good choice for people who don’t like the feel of something stuck in their ear.
Looking at all of these options, it’s time to decide which style and options will best fit your needs. Bluetooth capability, for example, is a function you would want if you use your phone or a computer regularly. Rechargeable batteries save you money on replacement batteries and telecoil is great 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 buy your new hearing aids. The truth is, when it comes to hearing aids, you can’t be certain until you try them, so having the opportunity to wear them for a while helps.
A quality hearing aid will come with a good warranty so make sure you check that out as well. What kind of coverage does it come with? Will you get a new hearing aid if something goes wrong or will 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. There are several reasons you might notice a change in your hearing and they don’t all require hearing aids.