How Can You Find the Right Hearing Aids?

Finding the right hearing aid is much like finding the right glasses for your eyes – it takes time, and the right audiologist. Many different factors cause hearing loss, and regardless of the factors causing yours, you need to know how to get your hearing back to its best – or close to it!

Hearing loss can be tested with the help of an audiologist. They can take you through the right hearing tests and plot the results on an audiogram. The audiologist will assess the results for you and recommend what type of hearing aids you will need.

How do hearing aids work?

Hearing aids work to amplify sound. They're not a "fix-it" for your hearing, and they can help you to hear better with hearing loss. They contrast in design, and the technology used to amplify the sounds and special features of the hearing aids will differ depending on which you choose for your hearing health. The microphone of the hearing aids works to receive the sounds and convert that sound into a digital signal. The speaker produces the amplified sound into the ear, too.

What are the different hearing aid types?

The best hearing aids for you will depend on the age, hearing loss levels, listening needs and even the size and shape of your ear. Finding the right hearing aids cannot be done alone: you need your audiologist to work with you to ensure that you have exactly what you need. Some hearing aids work much better than others, and some include Bluetooth options that can make your hearing aids most tech-savvy. The different types of hearing aids include:

• Behind the ear (BTE): These hearing aids are worn behind the ear and connect via a thin wire or tubing to the personally fitted earpiece.
• In the ear (ITE): These hearing aids are situated in the ear bowl area and come in full-and half-shell varieties. 
• In the canal (ITC): ITC hearing aids are the smallest of the varieties, worn directly in the canal and providing a natural and pleasant listening experience. 

How do I choose a hearing aid?

Your audiologist is going to be the best person to turn to for hearing aid recommendations. They will talk you through the hearing aids that will best meet your requirements for style, features, price and more. When you see your audiologist, you should ask about whether you really need a hearing aid and what would happen if your hearing test shows that you need one and you don't wear one!

The most important thing to remember is that a hearing aid should be comfortable. If it isn't, you won't want to use it, and your audiologist will ensure that you are comfortable when you leave the office. If you ever have any questions about using a hearing aid, speak to your audiologist as soon as possible!