How to Choose the Right Hearing Aids

How to Choose the Right Hearing Aids

December 21, 2023, in Hearing Aids

While hearing aids do not restore normal hearing completely, they do an excellent job of amplifying sounds, which can drastically change your life if you experience problems with your hearing. At Athens Hearing, we are dedicated to walking you through every step of the hearing rehabilitation journey to ensure you get the right model. Below are tips on how to choose the right hearing aids:

1. Consider the Style

Hearing aids come in a wide range of styles, as seen below:

• Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) style: This style is the smallest, which also makes it the least visible hearing aid. It is designed to fit inside the ear canal and improve mild to moderate hearing loss.
• In-the-canal (ITC) style: Unlike the CIC, the ITC is only designed to fit partly in the ear canal but can still improve mild to moderate hearing loss.
• In-the-ear (ITE) style: This type of hearing aid features two styles – full shell and half shell. It often comes with directional microphones and fixes mild to severe hearing loss.
• Behind-the-ear (BTE) style: This is designed to hook over the top of your ear and rest behind it. Unlike the first three styles in this list, the BTE style is suitable for people of all ages.
• Other hearing aid styles include open fit (a variation of BTE) and receiver-in-canal (a variation of BTE but with a speaker or receiver)

At Athens Hearing, we have an experienced team of experts who are eager to explain different styles of hearing aids to curious patients and will help them pick the right one.

2. Remember the Size

When looking for a hearing aid, keep in mind that no aid is a one-size-fits-all unit. Therefore, you’ll need to consult extensively with your doctor to end up with the ideal gadget. With ongoing scientific advancements, modern hearing aids continue to get smaller, making them more comfortable for the wearer and far less noticeable.

Smaller hearing aids are more convenient to use, and they tend to be far more comfortable and lighter than their larger counterparts. Unfortunately, many smaller hearing aids may lack the necessary power needed to improve more severe cases of hearing loss. For this reason, smaller aids are only recommended for mild to moderate hearing loss.

3. Check the Features

Depending on the style, price, and size, different hearing aids have different features, which are as follows:

• Noise reduction: While all hearing aids have noise reduction technology, the amount of noise one can reduce varies depending on the model and price. Needless to say, you should go for a unit that reduces as much noise as possible—excess white noise can be overstimulating or drown out the noise you are trying to hear. If you can, consider a hearing aid with wind noise reduction.
• Rechargeable batteries: At Athens Hearing, we advise you to go for a hearing aid with rechargeable and interchangeable batteries since they are significantly easier to maintain than some older models with less charging flexibility.
• Directional microphones: Hearing aids with directional microphones pick up sound much more smoothly. These microphones become especially important if you are in a place with plenty of background noise since they can help you focus on a certain sound and minimize interruptions.

Schedule a Consultation with Us

Our team at Athens Hearing is here to help you pick a suitable set of hearing aids while providing proper guidance and tips. We also take you through the necessary processes to ensure the unit you have picked fits properly and solves the problem. Our patients are our top priority, and we understand the financial aspect of hearing rehabilitation can be daunting. To that end, we provide a diverse array of aids at ranging prices and can discuss payment options. If you are in Athens, GA, schedule a consultation with Athens Hearing for unmatched, comprehensive care.