Potomac Falls
Audiologist putting hearing aid in woman’s ear on light background
Choosing a hearing aid can be challenging, particularly if you’re new to hearing aids. They come in all sizes, colors and technology levels.
The first factor the determines which hearing aid to get is your level of hearing loss, which could be anything from very mild to severe. So what next? What are important things to consider when choosing a hearing aid?
What will my hearing aid look like?
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) , about 466 million people worldwide deal with disabling hearing loss. While some people show off their hearing devices, others prefer they don’t attract attention. That all depends on your preference! With hearing aids, it’s like anything else you wear on your body. You can choose your color, style and features (depending on your specific hearing loss). So think about what a hearing aid would need to have to make it feel like yours.
How important is ease of hearing in complex sound environments?
It’s important for you to consider your lifestyle habits- are you socially active or do you lead a quieter lifestyle? Also consider your overall desire for easier hearing. If you are socially active, you are more likely exposed to situations with more background noise. This is the situation that people have the most problems following conversation in. Use a hearing aid technology that offers features to enhance speech when there’s more background noise. Typically, the more advanced the technology, the more features support you with easier hearing in a complex sound environment. For some, who do not find themselves in these situations regularly, being able to hear easily no matter where they are is the priority.
Do I want to stream music or TV directly to my hearing aid?
If you’re an avid phone user, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Bluetooth hearing aids that are made for easy connectivity. Many hearing aids today offer Bluetooth connectivity that will connect your phone directly to your hearing aids. If your phone offers 2.4GHz connectivity you’ll be able to control your hearing aids sound and enjoy streaming audio from your phone.
Do I want to use my phone to manage my hearing aids?
Hearing aids today do so much more than simply amplify sound. Most help you personalize your listening experience through AI (Artificial Intelligence). These features are usually managed through your smartphone. So if you like using it, this is a great way to get even more features available to you on top of the automatic sound features, which vary from hearing aid to hearing aid.
Do I find it hard to hear soft sounds?
Softer sounds like birds chirping, the noise from the wind, voice of a small child, family member or even a conversation from a distance, is harder to appreciate when you have hearing loss. You can be missing soft sounds completely! If that’s important to you, there’s no doubt you should choose a hearing aid with emphasis for those soft sounds in our daily life.
Is my work environment noisy?
There’s a huge difference between working in construction, in theater or at an office. For some, the office is very noisy! Consider your work situation: do you want a hearing aid that reduces unwanted background noise? Do you want one that captures soft sounds, or manages acoustics well at a large venue?
Where do I need to hear my best?
Are you active in sporting or theatrical events? Do you attend large lectures, religious services or travel outdoors? Whatever your important listening situations are, insure your hearing aids are able to manage each of them in the way that works best for you. Some hearing aids offer features that are great for sports; others may be better for music and live performances. Some hearing aids are good all around! Make sure that your new hearing aids can give you the best possible support in the way that fits your lifestyle the best.
How do I get started…?
If you haven’t yet taken a hearing test, we suggest you do. Contact a hearing care professional who can help answer your questions and find the best solution for you. Hearing Doctors directory is a great place to find an Audiologist to meet with.