3 Tips to Select the Right Hearing Device for You

We are all individuals.

In every aspect of our lives, we are different from one another.

Take vacations for example: Do you live for Vegas or does the thought make you shudder? If you love sunning yourself by the pool with a cocktail in hand, then the prospect of camping and hiking probably leaves you cold.

The same goes for hearing devices. One size, or rather one model, does not fit all.

The reasons are obvious: Hearing loss is individual (the sounds we struggle with vary) and no two individual’s lifestyle is the same. In practical terms, this means the background sounds you struggle to hear against, will vary depending on your hobbies and habits.

So how do you go about selecting the right hearing device for you?

By using the following tips and working with your audiologist, you will be able to find the right device to check all the boxes on your list.

1. Think about your Hearing Needs

Ahead of your hearing test have a think about where it is you have the most difficulty hearing.

For example, do you pick the grandkids up from school but find it hard to hear them in the back of the car. Or do you attend a place of worship but can’t hear the speaker? Or you’re a musician who needs to protect their hearing from a loud speaker positioned behind your shoulder?

The demands on our hearing varying depending on circumstances such as:

• A one-to-one conversation with the speaker in front of you
• Holding a joint conversation with two people either side
• Participating in a round-table discussion or group meeting
• Hearing against a noisy background
• Coping with wind or traffic noise

Consider the hurdles in your way, and note them down.

Sharing this with your audiologist is a major leap forward to getting the right device.

2. Be honest about your limitations

It’s no good having a state of the art hearing aid if the switches are too small for you to see.

A wonderful device that requires you to manually change settings may be nullified if you have severe arthritis and find the dials too tiny.

Be honest. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll have to accept second best, because these days there are a wireless or Bluetooth alternatives that allow you to program the earpiece through a handset.

Another part of being honest is about setting a realistic budget. But be aware that a hearing aid is a worthwhile financial investment that can protect your earning power. Yes, a good hearing device is a considered purchase, but for something you wear every day that makes a material difference to your quality of life, the daily cost often comes down to that of a takeaway coffee per day.

3. Talk to your audiologist

Seek the unbiased advice of an audiologist. As well as having the medical knowledge to inform your decision, they are also healthcare professionals. This means that, unlike people motivated by sales, they have your best interests at heart plus a wide knowledge of the field, which adds to the perfect combination to meeting your needs as an individual.