You already know that you need to get hearing aids, so what do you do next? Hearing aids will soon become an important part of your life so choose wisely. If you find some hearing aids that are only available on the internet, then you can be sure that they are likely to be pretty flimsy. It’s up to you to decide what you want from the device and how much you can afford to spend. When you are shopping for hearing aids, there are some sacrifices that you should be ok with, but is your hearing one of them?
Those Cheap Internet Imitations
Even though they seem to be a bargain, those poor quality internet hearing assistance devices will wind up costing you more. They are not very efficient and they don’t function that well. What money you save on the device itself, you end up losing because you have to constantly replace the batteries, and you will replace them a lot.
Amplifying sound is the only thing these low-quality devices do. Modern, top quality digital hearing aids combine different technologies to deliver a device customized to your needs. You can go cheap and get one online but you will miss out on important features.
Your new hearing aids are an investment in your future and you need to see them that way. If you can’t hear well it can make your life very overwhelming and could end up costing you money, so it’s a bad choice to go cheap when purchasing hearing aids. If you think you can’t afford good quality hearing aids, there may be other ways to get them, so don’t settle for something that is less than what you really need.
Digital Vs. Analog
Digital hearing aids offer better quality sound that is much more reliable. If you run across analog hearing aids, move on and look at the digital units, instead.
Reputable sellers don’t even have analog units at this time. If you’re not aware of the difference you may mistake an analog hearing aid for a digital. Analog means the type of signal the hearing aid receives and the quality. Analog hearing aids have major issues with consistent sound quality.
Looking For The Ideal Features
There are actually two aspects to hearing aid shopping: features and style. You want features that make your life better in a style that is comfortable. Some common features to consider include:
- Telecoils
- Bluetooth
- Environmental noise control
- Noise reduction
- Rechargeable batteries
- Variable programming
- Wireless connectivity
- Direct audio input
- Synchronization
- Remote controls
- Directional microphones
Take Into Consideration The Different Styles
You will notice, when you start researching hearing aids, that there are many styles to pick from. Luckily, there are so many styles to pick from that finding a style that works for your needs is almost a guarantee. Some of the different styles are:
- Open Fit
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
- Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
fairly obvious definition of each style is given by the names. BTE means “behind the ear” and that’s just where it goes. An ear-mold sits at the ear’s opening and has a clear tube which attaches it to the BTE.
Did you already figure out that ITE devices go “in the ear”? It’s a single unit that sits in the opening of the ear canal. Nothing goes behind the ear. ITC devices are very similar but they go deeper inside the ear, making them harder to see.
RIC and RIE, as the name implies, have a receiver unit that sits in the ear and connects by a wire to a piece behind it. These types of hearing aids are less conspicuous than a BTE.
Lastly, open fit units are BTE devices but instead of connecting to an ear-mold, a tiny tube goes into the ear canal. If you can’t deal with the feeling of something in your ear, this format is a smart choice for you.
Your job is to go over each of these options and determine which of them matter the most to you. For instance, Bluetooth is a useful feature to have, particularly if you use your smartphone or computer a lot. If you listen to seminars and lectures, telecoil is an ideal option and you won’t have to keep shelling out money for new batteries if you get a hearing aid with a rechargeable one.
Lastly, Your Buying Options Should be Considered
Most qualified retailers will custom fit the device and give a free trial period. That’s where you want to go to purchase your hearing aids. It’s difficult to be confident that you are making the right choice if you don’t have the opportunity to try your hearing aids before you buy them.
A quality hearing aid will come with a good warranty so make sure you look into that as well. What’s covered? Do you get a new hearing aid if something goes wrong or does the warranty only cover parts and possibly labor?
Before purchasing hearing aids schedule an appointment with a hearing care specialist for a checkup and hearing test, too. Your hearing trouble might not even require hearing aids.