4 Things to Consider When Selecting Hearing Aids

Hearing aids come in a variety of styles with different functions and benefits for certain situations. Choosing the right ones can be a little tricky, especially if you've never purchased any before. It's certainly not a one-size-fits-all thing, so you need to consider a few different factors when you're deciding which hearing aids are for you. Your audiologist can help you to examine all of the options so that you can make a better decision. You can think about things like the style and special features of the hearing aids, as well as your needs and your budget.

Style

Standard hearing aids are available in several different types. As a general rule, you will pay more for smaller and more discreet hearing aids. Some of the hearing aid types you might come across include:

• Behind-the-ear (BTE)
• In-the-ear (ITE)
• In-the-canal (ITC)

Not all types of hearing aids are suitable for all levels of hearing loss. This is a factor that's important to consider, and your audiologist can recommend which styles are suitable for your level of hearing loss. In addition to how small and discreet the hearing aids are, you might want to consider things like dexterity too. Small hearing aids might not be suitable for someone who has problems with fiddly tasks.

Extra features

Many hearing aids come with features that enhance their use. For example, some hearing aids allow you to filter out background noise so that you can concentrate on a conversation more easily. Others come with Bluetooth so that you can directly connect your hearing aids to your phone or another device to listen to music and TV or even make a phone call. However, you don't have to have every possible feature for your hearing aids. Talk to your audiologist about which would be best for you.

Your lifestyle needs

You should consider your lifestyle and what needs you have to help you choose the right hearing aids. Do you play sports? Do you enjoy listening to music a lot? Are you a particularly social person? These are all things to think about if you want to choose the best features and style for your hearing aids. You might want to write down some of your wishes for your hearing aids to work out what your priorities are. Everyone has different needs so knowing yours will give you a good place to start.

Your budget

How much you're willing to spend is also an important thing to think about before you buy hearing aids. If your insurance provider will pay for your hearing aids for you, knowing how much they're willing to cover is a good idea. If you'll be paying for them yourself, take a look at some prices and think about how much you might be able to spend. Your audiologist can help you find something within your price range by showing you some options.

Take a variety of factors into account when you choose your new hearing aids. Getting the right ones for your needs is important.