If you’ve decided that you need to invest in hearing aids, what will you do next? Finding the correct hearing aids is an important decision since they will play a major part in your life. There are many different kinds of hearing aids available including some pretty flimsy ones available only on the Internet. It’s up to you to decide what you expect from the device and how much you can afford to pay. When shopping for hearing aids, there are some sacrifices that you should be ok with, but is your hearing one of them?
Cheap Internet Imitations Are Not Really Hearing Aids
Despite the fact that they seem to be a bargain, those internet hearing assistance devices will end up costing you more over time. They are very low-quality and don’t work very well. The 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.
These low-quality devices will help amplify sound, which is one basic feature of hearing aids but that’s all they do. Customization to your exact needs can be accomplished with the integrated technologies found in a modern quality digital hearing aid. Several important features will be sacrificed if you decide to purchase a cheap online device.
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 overwhelming and could end up costing you money, so don’t go cheap when purchasing hearing aids. Be certain to get the hearing aids you actually need. Even if you can’t afford them there may be other solutions.
Analog Vs. Digital
A better quality, more dependable sound is produced by digital hearing aids and they’re more consistent also. If you run across analog hearing aids, move on and shop for the digital units, instead.
If you shop at a reputable hearing aid seller, all of the units will be digital. You have to be careful because analog devices are still in existence if you don’t know what to look for. Analog means the type of audio signal the hearing aid gets and the quality of the sound. With analog hearing aids, the quality of the sound is very inconsistent.
Choosing The Very Best Features
Features and style are the two aspects when hearing aid shopping. You want a comfortable style that comes with features that make your life better. Some standard features to consider include:
- Direct audio input
- Directional microphones
- Remote controls
- Noise reduction
- Synchronization
- Bluetooth
- Variable programming
- Wireless connectivity
- Rechargeable batteries
- Environmental noise control
- Telecoils
Take Into Consideration The Different Styles
There are numerous styles available to you, as you will realize when you start researching hearing aids. There is definitely a style that will work for you, and that’s the great news. Some of the different styles are:
- Behind-the-Ear (BTE)
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
- Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC)
- Receiver-in-the-Ear (RIE)
- Open Fit
- In-the-Ear (ITE)
fairly obvious description of each style is offered by the names. BTE hearing aids include a piece that sits behind the ear. An ear-mold rests at the ear’s opening and has a clear tube which attaches it to the BTE.
On the other hand, ITE pieces sit, you guessed it, inside of the ear. This device goes at the opening of the ear canal and is only one unit. There is nothing that goes behind the ear. ITC devices are very similar but they go deeper into the ear, making them harder to see.
RIC devices and RIE devices have a “receiver in the canal” and a “receiver in the ear” respectively, which are then connected to a unit behind the ear. These types of hearing aids are not as obvious as a BTE.
Rather than having ear-molds, open fit devices, which are a kind of BTE, have a thin tube that goes into the ear canal. This format works well for people who don’t like the feel of something stuck in their ear.
After going over all of these options, it’s time to choose which style and options will fit your needs the most. Bluetooth capability, for instance, is a feature you would want if you use your phone or a computer regularly. Rechargeable batteries save you money on replacement batteries and telecoil is good if you have to listen to lectures or seminars a lot.
Finally, Consider Your Buying Options
A qualified retailer that has a free trial period and that will custom fit the device is the best place to buy your new hearing aids. Having a chance to try out your new hearing aids before you purchase them will give you confidence that you are making the correct choice.
A good warranty will come with a quality hearing aid, so don’t overlook that. What’s covered? Some pay only for replacement parts, some cover the labor, also, and how about a new hearing aid if something goes wrong?
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist for a checkup and hearing test before you buy your hearing aids. Your hearing issue might not even call for hearing aids.