Hearing aid guides are not hard to find, but the majority are not exactly reader-friendly, either. Many are simply too lengthy or complicated, generating more confusion rather than less.
My guess is that you’re much less interested in the physiology of hearing or in the ins and outs of acoustical engineering and more interested in locating the best technology at a fair price. Your intent is to hear better, not to read a 10-page manual.
If that describes you, then you’ll welcome this brief guide to hearing aids. We’ll cover four brief parts, and when we’re done, you’ll be set to work with your hearing care professional to find the technology that’s most suitable for you. Let’s get started.
How All Digital Hearing Aids Work
Deciding on a hearing aid can feel overwhelming—there are several brands and seemingly limitless considerations. But it’s not as complicated as it seems. As you move on through this guide, bear in mind that all digital hearing aids function generally the same way, and consist of these four fundamental parts:
- The microphone registers environmental sound and transmits it to the digital processor.
- The digital processor modifies the sound signal based on the settings programmed by the hearing specialist. The revised sound signal is then transferred to the amplifier.
- The amplifier increases the volume of the sound based on the programmed settings, amplifying only the frequencies the person has trouble hearing (while suppressing background noise). This signal is next delivered to the speaker.
- The speaker delivers the magnified sound to the ear, producing louder, clearer sound.
In addition, all hearing aids contain a battery, volume and setting switches, and remote controls.
Hearing aids really only differ in two major ways: 1) style, and 2) advanced features. We’ll address these in the next two sections.
Hearing Aid Styles
You have your choice of three primary styles:
1. Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids hook over the top of the ear and sit behind the ear. The case is then linked to an earmold in the ear canal by a piece of clear tubing. BTE hearing aids are convenient to handle and clean, normally have an extended battery life, and can manage severe hearing loss.
2. In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids occupy the external part of the ear with a custom-molded shell. ITE hearing aids are smaller than the behind-the-ear hearing aids but bigger than the in-the-canal styles. This makes ITE hearing aids easier to handle than the smaller styles but less conspicuous than the BTE style.
3. In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids fit partially or completely inside of the ear canal, which makes them almost or completely invisible. ITC and CIC hearing aids are custom molded to the shapes of the ear, and some can be used for several months at a time.
When picking out a style, take into account the tradeoffs among user-friendliness, battery life, and concealment. Your hearing care professional will help you prioritize your preferences and pick the most appropriate style.
Hearing Aid Advanced Features and Accessories
After you’ve decided on the right style, you can establish which of the following features you need—and which you don’t.
- Directional microphones allow you to focus on the sounds and conversations directly in front of you while reducing the disruption of loud background noise.
- Telecoils, or T-coils, allow you to talk on the phone while decreasing the static brought about by background noise.
- Environmental noise control allows you to optimize hearing based upon your environment, for instance in a tranquil room at home as opposed to in a bustling restaurant.
- Direct input to sound sources such as televisions, radios, computers, and music players allow for clear sound without background noise.
- Wireless connection to mobile phones turns your hearing aids into top-notch wireless headsets. The hearing aid settings can be manipulated from the phone (or smart watch), and sound can be wirelessly streamed directly from the phone to the hearing aids.
Optional accessories include cleaning systems, storage cases, ultraviolet sanitizers, battery-changers, and more. Your hearing care professional can help you decide on which you may need or want.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aids
Before investing in hearing aids, take these four steps:
- Find a reputable, local hearing care professional. Only professionals with ample experience can test your hearing accurately, which is crucial for when it comes time to program, fit, and calibrate your hearing aids.
- Discuss hearing aid styles and advanced features. Your choice of hearing aids will hinge on your preference of style and function. Discuss these two factors with your hearing expert and your options will become manageable.
- Develop a budget. Some would state that your hearing is priceless, but that doesn’t mean you have an unlimited budget. With all of the hearing aid choices available to you, you and your hearing professional can uncover the right hearing aid at a reasonable price.
- Try out your new hearing aids. inquire about trial periods and test out your new hearing aids. Work with your hearing specialist to establish reasonable expectations and give your hearing aids a chance to show results. Your persistence will be rewarded when you recognize the difference better hearing will make in your life.
And that’s it. What looks like a complicated process is in reality easily workable, once you know how to prioritize your needs and constrict your options. With the help of your local hearing care professional, you can obtain the ideal technology at the right price—so you can start enjoying all of the benefits of better hearing.