The numbers don’t lie: at some point in your life, you’re probably going to require a hearing aid. A quarter of all people between 60 and 75, according to an NIDCD report, have hearing loss and for individuals over 75 this figure increases to 50%. But how can you be certain which model is right for you when you realize it’s your best chance of combating loss of hearing? Hearing aids at one time had problems such as susceptibility to water damage and unwanted background noise but modern day hearing aids have solved these sorts of problems. But to ensure your choice of hearing aid is correct for you, there are still things you need to consider.
Directionality is a Key Feature
Directionality is one key function you should look for, which is the ability for your hearing aid to focus on the specific noise around you (like a conversation) while reducing background noise to a minimum. One, if not both, of two types of directionality systems are functioning inside most hearing aids, they either focus in on sound directly in front of you, or they focus on sound produced by different speakers and sometimes do both.
Can You Use it With Your Phone?
It’s become apparent, we’re addicted to our cellphone as a nation. Even if you don’t have a smartphone, chances are you have an old-style cell phone. And on the off-chance that you don’t own any kind of cell phone, you probably still have a land-line. So, how well hearing aid works with your phone is an important concern when you’re looking at hearing aids. What does it sound like? Are you capable of discerning voices precisely? Is it Comfortable? Is it Bluetooth Ready? These are all the things you should take into account when looking at new hearing aids.
Are You Likely to Wear it?
As noted above, hearing aid development has progressed tremendously over the past few years. One of those advances has been the size and shape of hearing aids, which have moved towards the smaller and more comfortable direction. However, there will always be some trade-offs. A more compact hearing aid might not be as powerful as a larger one, so it really depends on your hearing specialist’s suggestion and what you need to accomplish with your hearing aid. The little models won’t have the features of the larger models and they may get clogged with earwax but they fit inside your ears nearly invisibly. On the other end of the spectrum, a behind the ear hearing aid is larger and may be more noticeable, but often have more directionality features and provide more choices for sound amplification.
Exposure to Particular Background Noises
One of the most significant concerns since the advent of hearing aid technology has been wind noise and the chaos it causes to users. Being outside on a windy day with a traditional hearing aid once meant that you couldn’t pick up anything except the wind, which is enough to drive anyone crazy. If you’re an outdoors kind of person or you live in a windy area, you’ll want to control wind noises with your hearing aid decision so that conversations are free from that frustrating wind howl. Inform yourself about the many hearing aid options available to you. Give us a call.