If you aren’t really rich, a car isn’t really an impulse buy. Which means you will most likely do a lot of research first. You take a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) It makes sense to do this level of research. For most people who aren’t rich, it will take a long time to pay off the thousands of dollars you will spend. So you want to make sure your investment is well spent.

You’ll be considering how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things like safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you like? How much room do you require for weekly groceries? How much power do you need to feel when you push down that accelerator?

So you should take a close look at all of your possibilities and make some informed choices so that you can get the most out of your investment. And when you’re picking out new hearing aids, it’s important to have this same attitude. They won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, but they’re still an investment. Determining which device will fit your lifestyle best and which device works best in general, is the best way to get the most from your investment.

Hearing aid benefits

The example of the benefits of purchasing hearing aids can be generally compared with the example of buying a car. Hearing aids are pretty awesome!

The advantages of hearing aids, for most people, are more tangible than just helping you hear. With a set of hearing aids, you can stay involved with the people in your life. You’ll have an easier time chatting with the clerk at the pharmacy, listening to a story about dinosaurs over dinner with your grandchildren, and engaging in conversations with friends.

With all these benefits, it seems sensible that you’d start to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You want to keep those benefits going!

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

Some people might think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the most expensive device.

And, to be sure, hearing aids can be an investment. Here are a couple of reasons why some hearing aids might be costly:

• Hearing aids are designed to contain very advanced technologies, and they have to make those technologies as small as possible. That means you’re getting a very potent technological package.
• Hearing aids are also made to last for a long time. Especially if you take care of them.

But the most expensive model won’t necessarily be your best fit or work the best. How severe your hearing loss is and, obviously, your budget are a couple of the variables to consider. Some hearing aids will definitely last longer than others. But the price of the device isn’t always the deciding variable.

In order to keep your hearing aids in good working order, as with any other purchase, they will require routine care and maintenance. Also, your hearing loss is unique to you and your hearing aids will have to be tuned to your exact requirements.

Be sure you get the best hearing aids for you

So, what are your choices? When it comes to hearing aids, you’ll have several different styles and kinds to choose from. We can help you determine which hearing aids will be best for your hearing requirements. Here are the choices you will have to pick from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These kinds of hearing aids can provide high-quality sound and are generally very discrete (great for people who want to hide their hearing aids). The only trouble is that they tend to have a shorter longevity and battery life. And some of the most sophisticated functions are typically missing because of their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly hidden because they are molded to your ear canal. They will typically have more high-tech features being a bit larger than CIC models. Some of these functions can be somewhat tricky to adjust by hand (because the devices are still rather small). Still, ITC models are ideal for individuals who need more features but still want to remain discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: This style of hearing aid is molded to sit completely inside your outer ear. A “half shell” version sits in your lower ear and a “full shell” version fits completely inside your ear. These devices are more visible but can include advanced and powerful microphones, making them a great choice for noise control or complex hearing conditions.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): In a way, BTE hearing aids are the best of both worlds. This style of device has one part that sits in your ear (that’s the speaker) but moves all of the bulky electronics to a casing that goes behind your ear. The small tube that connects the two elements is still rather discrete. These hearing aids offer many amplification solutions making them quite popular. These kinds are a good compromise between visibility and power.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): With this model, the speaker part fits in the ear canal but they are otherwise similar to BTE models. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of cutting down on things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Even when you’re using the device, low-frequency sounds can still get into the ear. This makes them a good fit for people who can hear those low-frequencies pretty well (but have difficulty with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good choice for everybody.

How about over-the-counter hearing aids?

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep flooding you with acronyms) are yet another alternative to think about. OTC hearing aids work fine in general, much like OTC medications. But it’s likely that OTC hearing aids won’t have the power you require if your hearing loss is more pronounced or complex. Generally, OTC hearing aids can’t be specifically programmed to your hearing like prescription hearing aids can.

The best way to find out what kind of hearing aid will be best for you, you should talk with us.

Repair and upkeep

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to select your perfect hearing aid type, you should take care of it. Just like your car requires oil changes now and again.

So how often will your hearing aids need to be checked? You should have your hearing aid cleaned and maintained every six months to a year. This gives you a chance to be sure that everything is working effectively and as it should!

You should also become familiar with your warranty. If and when you need repair, knowing what’s covered by that warranty and what’s not can save you some money! So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is sometimes simple: good maintenance and a strong warranty.

So… what is the best hearing aid?

There is no single greatest all-time hearing aid. If you go to see twelve different hearing specialists and request the “best” hearing aid, they might provide you with twelve different models.

Which hearing aids fit your hearing loss requirements will be the ones that are best for you. Just like with a vehicle, for some an SUV will be the right choice, and for others, a minivan will best fit their lifestyles. The same is true with hearing aids, it all depends on your specific situation.

But the more you know ahead of time and the better informed you are, the easier it will be to get the hearing aids that are perfect for you. Schedule a hearing test with us today!

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