According to research from the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, almost 85% of people between the ages of 20 and 69 who need hearing aids do not actually use them.
There are many reasons why people choose not to invest in hearing aids – for some, it’s about the stigma of using them, for others, it’s the cost or the inconvenience.
Even if you believe that you can manage without hearing aids, there is no doubt that not using them will decrease your quality of life.
You won’t be able to enjoy witty banter with friends and family and after a while, you will start to avoid social gatherings which will affect your mental and emotional health.
It’s best that you consult an audiologist who will be able to assess your type and degree of hearing loss.
Decide what Factor is Most Important to You
When you start looking at hearing aids, you will feel overwhelmed by all the choices you have, which makes it impossible for you to even start narrowing down your options. Take a step back and decide what is the most important factor to you – is it price, ongoing costs, discretion, or the ability to fine-tune settings to your requirements?
Even though several factors will be important, you need to decide which one is the most important as this will be your starting point when choosing a hearing aid. For instance, if price is the most important factor, you can immediately rule out all the expensive brands and models. An independent review of the most affordable hearing aids is a great place to start so you can see which hearing aids will give you the best bang for your buck.
After that, you can look at the other features that are important to you – if discretion is important, then you can consider a Eargo model which is considered to be the best for over-the-counter invisible hearing aids.
If you want to lower your ongoing costs, you should look for a model that uses rechargeable batteries so you eliminate the continuous expense of disposable batteries.
If you want to fine-tune the settings on your hearing aid, look for a hearing aid like the Lexie that is labeled “self-fitting”.
The term self-fitting is regulated by the FDA and it means that users will be able to fine-tune their hearing aid at home so that their device is calibrated to their needs.
Consider Different Hearing Aid Types
The main types of hearing aids are BTE (behind-the-ear), RIC (receiver-in -canal), ITE (in-the-ear), ITC(In-the-canal), and CIC (completely-in-the-canal). You will have to choose a hearing aid type that suits your level of hearing loss, your lifestyle and your abilities.
For instance, if you have mild to moderate hearing loss, it’s likely that you will be able to use any style of hearing aid but if you have severe to profound hearing loss, you will probably need a BTE or RIC style because these are more powerful.
BTE and RIC styles are also better choices if you have an active lifestyle as they offer more stability. If you have limited dexterity or vision, you would do better with a BTE model that is easier to handle.
Distinguish between Useful and Useless Features
Hearing aids can have a wide variety of features so you need to decide which features you need and which ones will add little to no value to your hearing experience. It’s very common for people to check out what hearing aids other people recommend and while these recommendations can be helpful, it’s important to check why those devices are recommended. For instance, if you don’t use a lot of Bluetooth-enabled devices, you won’t need a hearing aid that can simultaneously connect to multiple devices.
Shortlist Hearing Aids that suit your Lifestyle
You can buy the most expensive pair of hearing aids in the market but if they don’t suit your lifestyle, you won’t have them for very long. For instance, if you swim regularly, then you would need hearing aids that are waterproof but if you enjoy outdoor sports or biking, you would be better off with a hearing aid that has strong wind noise reduction.
Similarly, if you spend most of your time in noisy environments, you would want hearing aids that have directional microphones so you can focus on the conversation with your friends without being distracted by background noise.
Check the Trial and Warranty Periods
You will only know if a particular hearing aid is compatible with your needs after you’ve used it for a few days. This is why manufacturers offer a trial period so that you can take the time to adjust to the hearing aids as well as test the device in different environments.
It’s important to check the trial period and make sure that you will get a full refund if you are not happy with them. You also need to check whether the warranty covers the cost of repair and offers damage protection or battery replacement if required.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nurlana Alasgarli
Content Specialist
Nurlana Alasgarli is a professional copywriter with more than 6 years of creative writing experience. Having lived and experienced all over the world, there are many writing genres that Nurlana follows, including nature, arts and crafts and the outdoors. Nurlana brings life to content creation, captivating her readers.