The numbers don’t lie: you will probably need hearing aids eventually. A report from NIDCD estimates that around a quarter of all individuals between the ages of 60 and 75 have some kind of loss of hearing, and that number goes up to 50% for people 75 and older. The best means to fight age-related hearing loss is to use a hearing aid, but how do you know which model is best for you? Breakthroughs in technology in recent times have resolved some of the problems usually connected to hearing aids, such as too much background noise and vulnerability to water damage. But to make certain your choice of hearing aid is correct for you, there are still things you need to consider.
Directionality is a Crucial Feature
Directionality is one crucial function you should look for, which is the ability for your hearing aid to focus on the specific noise around you (such as a conversation) while keeping background sound to a minimum. Most hearing aids have different directionality systems, which either focus on the sound right in front of you, the speech that’s coming from different speakers, or a combination of both.
Will Your Hearing Aid Connect With Your Phone?
It’s become very clear, we’re addicted to our phone as a country. You probably have some kind of cell phone, either a smartphone or a flip phone. And on the off-chance that you don’t have any kind of cell phone, you likely still have a land-line. So, when you’re trying out different hearing aids, you should test how they work with your phone. What is the sound like? Are you able to discern voices clearly? Does it feel comfortable? Are there any Bluetooth connectivity options available? These are all the things you should take into consideration when selecting new hearing aids.
Are You Inclined to Use it?
As noted above, hearing aid technology has advanced tremendously over the last few years. One of those advances has been the size and shape of hearing aids, which have moved towards the smaller and more comfortable direction. But there are undoubtedly pros and cons. A smaller hearing aid may not be as powerful as a bigger one, so it really depends on your hearing professional’s suggestion and what you need to achieve with your hearing aid. The little ones won’t have the features of the larger models and they may get clogged with earwax but they fit inside your ears nearly imperceptibility. On the other hand, better directionality features and more sophisticated sound amplification options are available with a behind the ear hearing aid even though it’s a little bit larger.
What Kind of Background Noise Will You be Exposed to?
One of the largest concerns since hearing aid technology has been invented has been wind noise and the chaos it wreaks on users. Being outside during a windy day with a traditional hearing aid once meant that you couldn’t hear anything but the wind, which is enough to drive anyone crazy. you live in a windy place or if you’re an outdoor kind of person so you’ll want to control wind noises with your hearing aid decision so that conversations won’t have that irritating wind howl. Searching for more information about how to choose the right hearing aid? Give us a call.