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 purchase wisely. There are many different kinds of hearing aids available including some pretty flimsy ones available only on the Internet. Only you can decide how much you are prepared to spend and what quality of hearing aids you are willing to buy. What should you expect when investing in hearing aids?
Those Internet Imitations
Hearing assistance devices which are found on the internet are not really a bargain and their not really hearing aids. They are not really efficient and they don’t function that well. The money you save when you buy the device itself, you end up losing because you have to continuously replace the batteries, and you will replace them a lot.
These low-quality devices will help amplify sound, which is one basic function of hearing aids but that’s all they do. You get several different technologies in a modern high-quality hearing aid that can be customized to your exact needs. You can go cheap and buy one online but you will lose out on several essential features.
Your new hearing aids are an investment in your future and you need to see them that way. If you can’t hear very well it can make your life very difficult and could wind up costing you money, so it’s a bad choice to go cheap when you buy hearing aids. Be certain to get the hearing aids you really need. Even if you can’t afford them there may be other solutions.
Digital Vs. Analog
A better quality, more reliable sound is delivered by digital hearing aids and they’re more consistent also. It’s not even worth spending the time to consider analog units.
Reputable suppliers don’t even carry analog units at this time. It’s important to recognize analog devices are out there, though, and to understand the difference between the two. Low-quality analog signals are what the older hearing aids process. Analog hearing aids have some major issues with consistent sound quality.
Looking For The Ideal Features
Features and style are the two elements of hearing aid shopping. You want a comfortable style that comes with features that make your life better. Some standard features to consider include:
- Directional microphones
- Remote controls
- Rechargeable batteries
- Environmental noise control
- Variable programming
- Wireless connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Telecoils
- Noise reduction
- Direct audio input
- Synchronization
Take Into Consideration The Different Styles
When you start researching hearing aids, you’ll see there are numerous styles available to you. That is good news because it means that there is certainly a style that will be ideal for your needs. The various styles of hearing aids include:
- Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Open Fit
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
To get a fairly good idea of each style just take a look at their names. BTE means “behind the ear” and that’s just where it goes. A clear piece of tubing connects the BTE to an ear-mold which sits 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 goes in the opening of the ear canal. Nothing goes behind the ear. ITC indicates “in the canal” and they are very much like ITE’s but ITC’s go further into the ear canal and that means that you won’t see them so much.
RIC devices and RIE devices have a “receiver in the canal” and a “receiver in the ear” respectively, which are then connected to a piece behind the ear. Both styles are typically less conspicuous than BTE hearing aids.
Instead of having ear-molds, open fit devices, which are a type of BTE, have a thin tube that goes into the ear canal. If you can’t deal with the feeling of something in your ear, this style is a good choice for you.
Your job is to go over each of these options and decide which of them is most important to you. As an example, Bluetooth is a useful function to have, particularly if you talk on your smartphone or computer a lot. If you listen to seminars and lectures, telecoil is an excellent option and rechargeable batteries will save you money on replacement batteries.
Finally, Consider Your Buying Options
Most qualified retailers will offer custom fitting and a free trial period. That’s where you will want to go to buy your hearing aids. Having a chance to try your new hearing aids before you buy them will give you confidence that you are making the best choice.
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? Some pay only for replacement parts, some cover the labor, as well, and what about a new hearing aid if something goes wrong?
Before buying hearing aids make an appointment with a hearing care specialist for a checkup and hearing test, too. Not all changes to your hearing call for purchasing hearing aids.