Tips for Selecting a Hearing Aid

There’s a lot of value in having a hearing aid if you’re experiencing hearing loss. They can make conversations easier to follow, and all-around improve a person’s quality of life. However, to ensure that the hearing aid works as well as possible, it’s essential you get the device that’s right for you. There are different types of hearing aid available, and you might need to trial a couple before settling on the one that you’ll wear long-term.

In this blog, we’ll run through some of the most effective tips for ensuring that you end up with the one that’s right for you.

Learn about the styles

As we said, there’s more than one type of hearing aid. Before deciding which one you’re going to wear, it’s important that you learn the different available styles. The three most common styles are in the canal (ITC), behind the ear (BTE) and in the ear (ITE). 

ITC devices: These hearing sit in the ear canal and come in other varieties, including completely in canal (CIC) and invisible in canal (IIC). They’re generally more discrete than the other types and are recommended for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

BTE hearing aids: If you’ve ever seen a person wearing a hearing aid, it was probably this style that you saw. Though slightly larger than some of the others, they’re more powerful and generally come with more settings than other styles, making them ideal for mild-to-profound hearing loss.

ITE technology: They sit in the bowl of the ear and come in skin and hair tones. Available in full- and half-shell models, these devices are suitable for mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss.

Work with an audiologist

While it’s possible to buy a hearing aid online, this isn’t recommended. In order to determine which hearing aid is right for you, it’s important first to determine the extent of the hearing loss. The only way to do this is to work with an experienced audiologist. They’ll be able to assess your level of hearing and make recommendations as to which one is right for you. They’ll also ensure that it’s fitted properly and that it’s working as well as possible. 

A trial period

While you might be leaning towards one type of hearing aid over another, the only way to truly figure out whether it’s the right one for you is to give it a test run. Over a period of a week or more, you’ll wear the hearing aid and see how well it works. If you have any issues, then you can simply return to the audiologist and see about wearing a different style.

Talk with others

IF you’re still not sure about which hearing aid to wear, look at talking with friends and family that also wear hearing aids. They’ll be able to run you through the pros and cons of their device, which will help you to make a more informed decision. It’s also recommended to talk with people that have a similar lifestyle to you.

If you’re in the market for a hearing aid, then get in touch with us to make an appointment as soon as possible. We will be happy to help you.