When you first decide to combat your hearing loss, you might be unsure of how to choose a hearing aid. Picking the right hearing aid for you depends on many factors, including degree of hearing loss, lifestyle and budget.
Buying a hearing aid can be a challenging process, as there are so many considerations and options to choose from. In order to determine exactly what you need from a hearing aid and what type and style might suit you, it’s useful to consider a variety of questions and share your responses with a hearing professional.
Lifestyle is one of the single biggest factors to take into account when choosing the right hearing aid. Do you frequently watch television? Are you an avid hiker or swimmer in the summer? Do you regularly talk on the phone? Do you often go out to restaurants or bars? Think about the activities you participate in most frequently in order to help you and your hearing professional to identify what you need to hear, where you need to hear it, and what level of wear and tear your hearing aid will need to withstand.
Today’s hearing aids feature a number of advanced technological options, but not all of them may be appropriate to your situation. Taking into consideration what you need to hear and the level of control you want will help you to select or forgo additional features like remote-controlled sound programs, various types of microphones and Bluetooth compatibility.
Your professional life also plays a major role in determining your hearing aid needs. For example, musicians need to hear high notes and harmonies, while people who work in a distracting environment may benefit from a hearing aid that reduces background noise.
Hearing aids that are worn in your ear or those that require relatively frequent battery changes are best for people with a high level of manual dexterity. For those with less than ideal manual dexterity, the best option is often rechargeable hearing aids. They are convenient and easy to use.
If you have purchased hearing aids before, consider your experience with your previous devices. What did you like about them and why? What would you change?
