What Hearing Aid is Right for Me?

Hearing aids are not a “one-size-fits-all” machine. The features and needs are based on everyone’s lifestyle. Lifestyle can be categorized as:

  • Quiet
  • Moderately active
  • Active

Depending on the activities your daily life entails, there are different types of hearing aids that may be better suited for your lifestyle. If you’d prefer an exciting night out at a rock concert or crowded restaurant over a quiet evening at home, ask your audiologist about hearing aids that are designed to improve hearing in crowded or noisy environments. With new technology, hearing aids are making it effortless to listen with less concentration, giving you the ability to enjoy that sporting event or family dinner and live in the moment.

Quiet

If you spend most of your time at home and your communication is limited between 1-2 other people in a quiet room, then you have a quiet lifestyle. You may talk on the telephone or watch TV most days, but your hearing aid options are open. You will probably decide based on your style preference and general usability, which each hearing aid has the basic features you want.

Moderately Active

For those who explore the great outdoors or like to relax on the golf course, in-the-ear style hearing aids (ITE) might be the right choice for you. Protected by your outer ear, in-the-ear style hearing aids minimize the sound of wind, keeping the outdoors as serene as it should be, and are perfect for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss. For behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, special sweatbands and covers fit discretely over your hearing aid, keeping out moisture and perspiration from you and the elements without forfeiting sound quality. These can come in multiple colors and styles, making it easy to match them with hair colors or outfits, guaranteeing that you enjoy the moment without the worry.

Active

Hearing loss does not have to mean the loss of your active lifestyle, whether that be playing sports, hiking, or enjoying the great outdoors. Addressing your hearing and lifestyle needs have become more and more important to living a full and rich life. Make sure you are speaking with your physician or audiologist about these three key topics to ensure that If you enjoy exploring the outdoors, are an active athlete, or just bit by the travel bug, you find hearing aids that are perfect for your lifestyle regardless of the severity of your hearing loss.

How to Choose the Right Hearing Aid

Several parts of the hearing aid are housed in the body, which is the largest part of your device. It sits behind your ear and is typically housed in a hard plastic casing. Here are the main components of the body of the hearing aid:

With so many hearing aids on the market, it may feel overwhelming to try to decide on which hearing aid may be right for you. You may get lucky and find one that suits you well enough but making this kind of decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. In order to ensure you’re making the smartest long-term investment, you should consult a hearing healthcare professional who not only knows the ins and outs of hearing aids but who can match you with a hearing aid that fits your lifestyle.