4 Questions to Ask About Hearing Aids

When it comes to picking the right hearing aids, there are a number of questions you should ask your audiologist to ensure you’re selecting the right pair for your needs. Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing loss and come in a number of different styles and models.

Before selecting a pair of hearing aids because you think they’re top-of-the-line, consider asking the following questions about the devices to confirm you’re picking the best model for your needs.

1. What style is best for my hearing loss?

Your audiologist will go over the results of your hearing test with you. This audiogram will plot the pitches and tones you struggle most to hear, which will help in the hearing aid selection process. For individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, you may have a larger selection of styles, including: invisible-in-canal (IIC), completely-in-canal (CIC), in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. For individuals with moderate-to-severe hearing loss, they may have more luck with ITE or BTE hearing aids.

2. What features are best for my lifestyle?

Today’s hearing aids can be equipped with a multitude of different features. However, it’s important to remember the more advanced the hearing aid and the more features added, the larger the investment. Talk with your audiologist about the features that would be most beneficial for your hearing loss and lifestyle. From directional microphones to Bluetooth capabilities, hearing aids can offer a lot of flexibility depending which features are most important to you.

3. How do I care for my hearing aids?

While hearing aids are incredibly durable and advanced pieces of technology, they do require some care and maintenance to keep them in the best shape possible. When selecting a hearing aid, talk with your audiologist about what care and cleaning is involved to ensure you’ll not only be able to perform routine maintenance, but you’ll actually follow through with it.

4. How much do the hearing aids cost?

Because hearing aids are so advanced, they are a large investment. It’s important to remember how much daily use you’ll be getting out of them and that their lifespan is long. When considering which hearing aids are best for you, make sure to discuss your budget with the audiologist to make sure you’re selecting something you’re comfortable paying for.

Getting hearing aids is an exciting and nerve-wracking time. To ensure you select the best hearing aids for you, talk more with your audiologist about the best features and models available.