If you aren’t really rich, a car really isn’t an impulse purchase. So a lot of research is probably the first thing you do. You have a good look at things like gas mileage, price point, and customer reviews. (You’re on Google a lot.) This amount of research makes sense! For most individuals who aren’t wealthy, 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 thinking about how your purchase best suits your lifestyle and also practical things such as safety, gas mileage, etc. What style of vehicle do you want? How much room do you need for weekly supplies? How fast do you want your car to be?

In other words, to get the most from your new car, you have to evaluate your options and make some decisions. And when you’re picking out new hearing aids, it’s essential to have this same mindset. They’re still an investment even though they cost much less than a new car. And getting the most out of your investment means figuring out which devices work best, overall, as well as what delivers the most for your lifestyle.

Hearing aid advantages

The example of the benefits of purchasing hearing aids can be broadly compared with the example of purchasing a car. Hearing aids are pretty great!

Yes, they help you hear, but for most individuals, the advantages are more tangible than that. With a set of hearing aids, you can remain connected to the people in your life. You’ll be able to more easily follow conversations at the dinner table, listen to your grandchildren tell you about fascinating dinosaurs, and chit-chat with the cashier at the grocery store.

With all these benefits, it seems sensible that you’d begin to ask, “How can I make my hearing aids last longer?” You don’t want those benefits to go away.

Do more costly hearing aids work better?

Some people may think that they can only get a quality hearing aid if they get the highest-priced device.

And, to be sure, hearing aids are an investment. There’s a reason why some devices are costly in the first place:

• The technology inside of a hearing aid is very small and very state-of-the-art. That means you’re paying for a very potent technological package.
• They’re designed to be long-lasting. Especially if you take care of them.

But that doesn’t mean the most expensive option will inevitably work best. How profound your hearing loss is and, of course, what you can afford are a couple of the factors to consider. Do some hearing aids last longer than others? Certainly! But the cost of the device isn’t always the deciding factor.

As with any other purchase, hearing aids will need regular maintenance in order to keep working properly. Also, your hearing loss is distinct to you and your hearing aids will need to be tuned to your exact needs.

Make sure you get the correct hearing aids for you

So, what are your options? You’ll be able to choose from numerous different styles and types. You can work with us to figure out which ones are the right choice for you and your hearing goals. Here are the choices you will have to choose from:

• Completely-in-the-Canal Hearing Aids (CIC): These types of hearing aids can deliver high-quality sound and are generally quite discrete (great for people who want to hide their hearing aids). But with this kind of hearing aid, battery life, and overall lifespan is often shorter. And some of the most state-of-the-art features are usually missing due to their smaller size.
• In-the-Canal Hearing Aids (ITC): These hearing aids are mostly hidden because they are molded to your ear canal. Because they’re a bit larger than CIC models, they may include more high-tech features. Some of these functions can be somewhat tricky to manipulate by hand (because the devices are still quite small). Even still, ITC models are great for people who require more features but still want to be discreet.
• In-the-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are also molded to your ears. No part of the device sits inside your ear canal, it all sits in your outer ear. Two styles are available (full shell, which fits the entirety of your ear, or half shell, which fits in the lower ear). These hearing aids are more visible but can contain advanced and powerful microphones, making them a great option for noise control or complex hearing problems.
• Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids (BTE): The speaker of this device sits in your ear and the more bulky electronic part goes behind your ear making them the best of both worlds in a way. The small tube that connects the two elements is still fairly discrete. These hearing aids provide many amplification options making them quite popular. These kinds are a good compromise between power and visibility.
• Receiving-in-the-Canal (or in the Ear) Hearing Aids (RIC or RITE): This is a lot like BTE hearing aids, except the speaker bit sits in the ear canal. This makes them even less visible, with the additional benefit of cutting down on things like wind noise.
• Open-Fit Hearing Aids: Open-fit hearing aids will let low-frequency sounds enter the ear even while you’re hearing the device. This makes them a good fit for people who can hear those low-frequencies fairly well (but have trouble with high-frequency sounds). Though it works well for many people, it won’t be a good option for everyone.

Pros and Cons of over-the-counter hearing aids

Over-the-counter hearing aids (or OTC hearing aids, to keep flooding you with acronyms) are yet another option to consider. OTC hearing aids work okay in general, much like OTC medications. But if your hearing loss calls for a set of more powerful hearing aids or more specialized hearing aids, OTC devices might fall somewhat short. Prescription hearing aids can be calibrated to your particular hearing needs which is an option generally not available with OTC hearing aids.

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

Maintenance and repair

Obviously, once you’ve gone to all the trouble to select your perfect hearing aid type, you need to take care of it. This is, once again, like a car which also requires upkeep.

So, now you’re thinking: how often should my hearing aids be checked? You should get your hearing aid cleaned and properly maintained every six months to a year. This gives you a chance to be sure everything’s working effectively and as it should!

It’s also not a bad idea to be somewhat familiar with your device’s warranty. You will save some cash when you are familiar with what is and isn’t covered. So now you’re wondering: how do I make my hearing aids last longer? The answer is usually simple: good maintenance and a great warranty.

Is there a hearing aid that’s the best?

There’s no single best hearing aid. Every hearing specialist may have a different model that they feel is the best.

The key is to find the best hearing aid for you and for your personal requirements. Some people will go with a minivan, others for a sport utility vehicle. It all just depends, and the same is true for hearing aids.

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 ideal for you. Call us to schedule a consultation today!

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