The numbers don’t lie: you will probably need hearing aids eventually. A study from NIDCD estimates that approximately a quarter of all individuals from 60 to 75 have some form of hearing loss, and that number goes up to 50% for people 75 and older. The best way to combat age-related loss of hearing is to use a hearing aid, but how do you know which model is best for you? Breakthroughs in technology in recent times have fixed some of the issues traditionally linked to hearing aids, including an excessive amount of background noise and vulnerability to water damage. But there’s still a great deal you need to know when deciding on a hearing aid to make sure it works with your lifestyle.
Look Closely at Directionality
Directionality is one key feature you should look for, which is your hearing aid’s ability to focus on the specific noise near you (such as a conversation) while reducing background sound to a minimum. Most hearing aids have different directionality systems, which either focus in on the noise right in front of you, the sound that’s coming from different speakers, or a combination of those two.
Will Your Hearing Aid Interact With Your Phone?
It’s become very clear, we’re addicted to our cellphone as a country. Even if you don’t have a smartphone, it’s likely you have an old-style cell phone. And for those few who don’t actually own a cell phone, you likely still have a land-line. So, when you’re trying out different hearing aids, you should test how they work with your phone. How does it sound? Do voices sound sharp? Does it feel easy to wear? Are there any Bluetooth connectivity options available? These are all of the things you should take into consideration when selecting new hearing aids.
Are You Likely to Use it?
In the last few years, as mentioned above, the technology of hearing aids has vastly improved. One of those advances has been the size and shape of hearing aids, which are a great deal smaller today. But there are definitely pros and cons. It depends on what your specific needs are. A smaller hearing aid is not as obvious and may fit better but a larger one could be more powerful. The little ones won’t have the features of the larger models and they could get clogged with earwax but they do fit inside your ears virtually imperceptibility. On the other hand, better directionality features and more sophisticated sound amplification options come with a behind the ear hearing aid even though it’s a little bit larger.
What Kind of Background Noise Will You be Exposed to?
Wind noise has been an overwhelming problem for hearing aid users since they were developed. Being outside on a windy day with a traditional hearing aid once meant that you couldn’t hear anything except the wind, which is could drive anyone nuts. If you’re an outdoors kind of person or you live in a windy place, you’ll need to get a hearing aid that suppresses wind noise so you can carry on conversations at an average volume and steer clear of the headaches that are associated with hearing aid wind noises. Inform yourself about the many different hearing aid choices available to you. Call us.