Any audiologist will tell you that the best hearing aids are the ones that work for YOU. Hearing loss, including the type and severity, varies from person to person. So do individual lifestyles. A high-tech hearing aid that works perfectly for a teenager, for example, may be overkill for a stay-at-home senior.
With so many factors to consider, what is most important when choosing the best hearing aid for you or a loved one? We’re glad you asked!
Helpful tips for choosing the best hearing aid
The ultimate hearing aid is one that works for your individual hearing loss and lifestyle. Additionally, it must fit your personal budget and consistently work properly. All of these factors will influence what hearing aids you get to begin with, and then how disciplined you are in wearing them. After all, what good are hearing aids if they’re not used?
- Hearing aid price – Hearing aids can range in price from hundreds of dollars on the low end, to thousands of dollars on the high end. Considering this, it’s not a purchase to take lightly. In fact, it may be helpful to think of hearing aids as more of an investment rather than something you buy. Do your research, narrow it down to a few good choices, and then let the experts help you make a final decision.
Price is important because you want to pick hearing aids that fit your budget. First, you may want to ask your insurance company what they cover, if anything. This will help you know how much of the bill you will need to pay yourself. Then, take a look at your options. As with most everything else in life, you get what you pay for. Cheap hearing aids will be just that – cheap in quality, lacking helpful special features, and require replacement sooner than later. On the other hand, expensive hearing aids will be better quality but may have more features than you need. Make a list of the features you want and need in a hearing aid, and then you can determine whether or not the price is warranted.
- Hearing aid quality – Cheap hearing aids are more likely to break down and require frequent replacement. A high quality one, however, can last 7-10 years. In addition, the higher the quality, the more consistently the hearing aid will perform. That means no annoying beeping, excess background noise, etc. In general, the better the quality, the better the hearing aid will be able to be fine-tuned to meet your specific hearing needs.
- Support for your hearing aids – Some hearing aid maintenance, like daily care and cleaning, can and should be done on your own once you’ve learned how to do it. As with any piece of technology, however, hearing aids can break. They also require periodic adjustments to ensure that they continue to meet your hearing needs.
Once you’ve narrowed your choice down to a few hearing aid brands, you’ll want to look at their warranties and support that they offer. It’s also helpful to choose a brand with which your audiologist is familiar. Often, hearing aid problems and adjustments can be solved with an in-office visit to your hearing professional. Many people, especially seniors, find this more beneficial than trying to troubleshoot over the phone with an unfamiliar customer service representative.
Expert hearing aid advice
When researching the best hearing aids for YOU, it doesn’t hurt to ask other hearing aid wearers what has worked best for THEM. Sometimes, you can avoid a costly mistake by learning from others’ experiences.
Ultimately, however, you’ll want to ask for expert advice from your audiologist. After all, these hearing professionals deal with hearing devices, hearing aid companies, and individuals with hearing loss every single day. At Advanced Hearing Group, we work with several different hearing aid brands so you can choose the one that offers the best features and fits within your budget. Give us a call and let’s get started!
