A hearing aid could be just what you need if you’re experiencing hearing loss. However, before you buy yourself a hearing aid, there are a few things worth knowing about these devices. Below are some of the things you should consider before you purchase a hearing aid.
Get a Hearing Test to Work Out Your Prescription
The first thing you should do is to schedule a hearing test. This will help to assess the level of your hearing loss. There are several different forms of hearing test, but the most common involves listening to sounds on headphones and either pressing a button or putting your hand up whenever you hear a sound. The results are plotted on an audiogram, which helps to determine the level of your hearing loss.
From here, you’ll be given a hearing aid prescription. A hearing instrument specialist will then be able to recommend the best type of hearing aid to cater to your prescription. You will usually not be able to buy a hearing aid unless you have a prescription.
Understand How Hearing Aids Work
In order to use your hearing aid correctly, you need to know how it works. While getting a hearing aid evaluation, you will usually be guided through all of this, but it doesn’t hurt to do some of your own research beforehand. Hearing aids typically rely on a simple three-part electronic mechanism. A microphone in the device picks up sounds. These sounds are digitally transmitted through an amplifier. The sounds then come out of a speaker facing into the ear canal.
Most hearing aids are powered by replaceable batteries. It’s important that you select the right batteries for your device – there are various sizes to choose from. Batteries should be stored somewhere dry and kept at room temperature to keep them working effectively.
Hearing aids are typically put in during the day and taken out at night. It’s worth researching how to maintain your hearing aids to keep them in good working condition. Again, this is something that will usually be discussed during a hearing aid evaluation.
Choose the Best Style of Hearing Aid for You
There are a few different styles of hearing aid to choose from. Certain styles of hearing aid may have practical advantages over other hearing aids. Of course, there may also be personal aesthetic preferences for certain styles. You should weigh all of this before making your choice.
A few of the main styles of hearing aid to look into include:
- In the Ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids are in the outer bowl and are the most common and traditional form of hearing aid. They are visible, tend to have a moderate battery life and may come with external controls.
- Behind the Ear (BTE): BTE hearing aids sit primarily behind the ear with a narrow tube and earpiece connected to the ear. They can be quite large and visible, but they often have a good battery life, easier controls and aren’t as susceptible to damage from earwax or moisture.
- In the Canal (ITC): ITC hearing aids are located inside the canal. They tend to be the most discreet form of hearing aid and offer great hearing quality but have a smaller battery and cannot include controls.
Consider Your Budget and Choose a Form of Payment
The price of a hearing aid can depend very much on the type of hearing aid you choose, and the hearing aid plan you choose. It is worth assessing your budget to determine what is the best style of hearing aid and best payment plan.
Hearing aids are typically not covered by health insurance schemes. However, there may be other financial schemes you can make use of to reduce or spread out the cost.
Book Your Hearing Aid Evaluation Today
Now that you know more about hearing aids, it could be worth booking your hearing aid evaluation. At Audio Hearing Aid Service, we can assess your hearing and find the right type of hearing aid for you. We’ll help to offer an in-depth explanation of how hearing aids work and what your options are. We also welcome you to ask any questions related to hearing aids that you may have.
To book a hearing aid evaluation, call our clinic today at 330-244-9881 or 330-364-6637.
