How To Choose The Best Hearing Aid?

Hearing is a very sensitive sense that unfortunately tends to fade over the years. Similarly, those who work on construction sites or perhaps in the world of music, could suffer damage to the hearing system if they do not use the necessary precautions.

For both of these cases, a common solution would be to buy a hearing aid. Although it is always best to consult a specialist before starting to use one, there are several models to choose from on the online market.

In this guide we aim to illustrate which are the main characteristics to look for in a product.

Types of Hearing Aid Devices for the Elderly

Hearing amplifiers for the elderly or disabled fall into two categories:

• Pre-set templates
• Medical

Each of this typology has its own specific characteristics. Let’s see them briefly together.

1. Pre-set acoustic amplifiers for seniors

These appliances are sold without any adaptation either further assistance and are therefore defined as “ready to use”. They can offer limited help for people with hearing difficulties in environments that require a lot of hearing effort.

They are not medical products and therefore are not a suitable solution for those who have a significant limitation to perceiving sounds. In particular, they cannot be adapted to a hearing loss that changes or worsens and is therefore bound to lose its value in a short period of time.

2. Medical hearing amplifiers for the elderly

The second category is a medical hearing aid device which is the ideal solution for people with serious hearing problems. Finding the right device is the task of the qualified hearing care professional, who analyzes hearing impairment with a test and prescribes the most suitable solution for the patient.

If you experience a medical problem, the professional recommends a visit to an otologist. In the case of hearing loss, however, he recommends the most suitable hearing aid.

The latter is individually adapted and can be re-adjusted in the event of a change in hearing loss. The hearing care professional then regularly assists the client and keeps him updated with all the news.

How To Choose The Best Hearing Aid?

1. Invisible or in plain sight

One of the most important differences to be aware of when buying a hearing aid is its visibility. The most common model has the classic headset shape that rests on the ear, while there are other types that are inserted into the auricle and remain “invisible” to inattentive glances.

The former may not be the best for those who care about aesthetics or are simply ashamed of walking around with a hearing aid. In fact, their shape is quite conspicuous, so if you often go out of the house, they may not be the most suitable. On the other hand, these types of hearing aids have the convenience of having all the controls, i.e., those for adjusting the volume and turning them on or off, within easy reach.

The invisible ones are certainly more comfortable to carry in crowded situations, but they may not have great versatility in the controls and are also more expensive than their counterparts.

2. Battery

Since most hearing aids operate on rechargeable batteries, it is a good idea to check the duration and the type of charger needed. The models of the best brand should have a battery capable of lasting at least a week so as not to be forced to recharge it after each use.

Probably the quality of the hearing aid battery could increase the price of the product, but to save money you can buy a model with a battery that lasts a day. Although it may seem short, such a period of time is more than enough since at night or when the device is not worn it can be kept charged, ready for use.

Usually, the power supplies are supplied with the product, although it is always advisable to check the seller’s card to make sure.

3. Performance

We assume that hearing aids sold online do not match the quality of those custom made by various specialized medical companies. Before concluding any purchase, it is always good to ask your doctor for an opinion because otherwise you risk buying the wrong product and wasting your money.

That said, hearing aid performance can vary based on the model and hearing sensitivity of the user. It is important that the product amplifies the noises, but does not make them excessively loud and cause the opposite effect to that desired.

The volume adjustment function is certainly a good option to look for, as it allows you to adapt it to the situation in which you are. Comfort also has its part, so it might be useful to look for a model that comes with silicone plugs of different sizes that can be adapted to different ears.

Conclusion

In modern hearing aids, sounds are not simply amplified, but rather processed to exactly match different types of hearing loss. In this way, even those with severe hearing loss can experience an extremely natural listening sensation again. Furthermore, we avoid subjecting the healthy areas of the ear to unnecessary stress, since only certain sounds and frequencies are appropriately amplified. A modern hearing aid therefore integrates like a mosaic tile into the profile of the wearer’s ear.