Finding the Right Hearing Solution

The Degree of Your Hearing Loss: Your hearing care professional will examine you to determine the exact degree and type of your hearing loss. If, for example, you have a severe hearing loss, a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) instrument might be the most appropriate choice, as it can provide more powerful amplification.

The Anatomy of Your Ear: The space inside our ears varies from person to person. Most ears are big enough for In-the-Ear hearing aids, but may not always be large enough to accommodate the smallest types that fit deep into the ear canal.

Do You Need Two Hearing Instruments? Two ears are always better than one, so if you have hearing loss in both ears, you should consider wearing two hearing aids. Not because they make things twice as loud, but because by mimicking the natural hearing process, they give you a better sense of where the sound is coming from. They also make it easier to understand what people are saying in noisy surroundings. Compared to one instrument, the overall sound quality and comfort from two is usually better.

Communication Needs
Take some time to think about the situations where you would like to improve your hearing. When and where do you need extra help? What are your requirements at work and at home and what are your favorite leisure activities-including the ones you’ve stopped doing because of communication problems? If you clearly define these requirements, your hearing care professional will be able to help you find an appropriate solution.

Communication Needs Handling
The smaller the instrument, the smaller the controls and batteries. So if your eyes are not what they used to be, or your fingers cannot cope with adjusting small controls, you will find larger instruments easier to handle.

Cosmetics
Hearing aids are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors to suit your own personal taste. You may want something discreet like an In-the-Canal style, or a Behind-the-Ear model in a color which closely matches your hair or skin tone. Many children prefer to wear brightly colored Behind-the-Ear instruments. Either way, your hearing care professional can help you find the style that suits you best.

Price
Better hearing means a better quality of life, so it should be viewed as an investment in yourself and your health. No matter what your budget is, you should be able to find hearing aids that meet your personal requirements. Hearing aids come in different price ranges, and medical insurance plans have varying policies for coverage of hearing care as a health benefit. Some insurance plans cover part of the diagnostic testing, but currently only few plans cover the full cost of the instruments. So remember to explore all the options together with your hearing care professional before making your final decision.

Sound Quality
Technology is everywhere today, helping to solve people’s problems. It certainly has improved the size and performance of hearing aids. Some of the most sophisticated instruments today are digital, running on powerful computer microchips to provide the best possible sound quality.