I often get asked, “what is the best hearing aid?” to which I reply, “the one that gets used.”
With so many hearing aids available on the market, it can be a daunting task for any consumer to feel he or she has done the proper research in making the best decision. While there are some buyer’s guides that rate hearing aids, it doesn’t gaurantee that the one with the highest rating will give you any more or less utility than the next one.
Following are several things you need to keep in mind when purchasing a hearing aid.
- Many hearing aids may look the same on the outside, but it is what’s inside that counts.
- Even the most expensive hearing aid is only going to work as well as the ability of the person programming it.
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
- Talk to someone you trust when picking a hearing professional.
- There is no wrong decision if you wear it.
Many hearing aids may look the same on the outside, but it is what’s inside that counts.
A new hearing aid user should never think that all hearing aids are the same. Numerous advancements of technology over the years has made great strides in helping the hearing impaired adapt to their new hearing ability.
For example, because of the digital technology in the instruments, feedback (whistling) is becoming closer to extinction, which allows for a more open and natural sounding hearing instrument. Most, but not all hearing aids have this capability. So naturally, some of the lesser expensive products may not implement this feedback control feature. However that does not mean that you need to get the most expensive product to take advantage of this feature either.
I find it helpful to use an analogy of purchasing a car. You can see how it looks, feel how it rides, appreciate the benefits it provides you, and consider the affordability when making a choice. To get wrapped up in the engine displacement, horsepower, and how the computer system in the car manages to operate the climate control, is probably a deeper than most users need to understand. That is where the hearing professional comes in.
Even the most expensive hearing aid is only going to work as well as the ability of the person programming it.
Although you don’t need to know the intricacies of how a hearing aid works, the hearing professional needs to know how to make them work for you! The professional should help guide you when choosing the right style to suit your needs. This person should also be able to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of selecting from the available brands of hearing aids on the market and how one or another might be more suitable for your individual hearing loss.
There are literally millions of combinations of sound processing adjustments an advanced hearing aid can deliver sounds to the user’s ear. Zoning in to achieve that combination takes experience, time, and the proper equipment. So having the expectation that this will happen on your first visit may not be entirely likely.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Remember to make follow up visits a part of your routine care. First, it is helpful in learning to use your hearing instruments and achieve the desired sound quality. You may find that you are trying to get something out of your hearing aid, that it is not capable of doing. If you discuss you concerns with your hearing professional early on in the fitting process, either adjustments can be made, or you may even want to try a different level of technology or hearing aid style. Utah State law allows at least a 30 day trial period on hearing aids. If it is not going to work for you, you have the right to return it. It does not do anyone any good if your hearing aid sets in the drawer.
We want you to be delighted with your hearing instruments so you will tell your friends about your positive experience. We hope your friends told you about Precision Hearing when you were looking for help.
Talk to someone you trust when picking a hearing professional.
An amazing amount of cost can go into advertising hearing aids. At Precision Hearing we believe the focus on delivering a true value mix of proper technology and service far outweighs a creative bunch of ads to draw in new customers. This allows us to keep our price as low as possible to help you get more technology for your investment. We hope you pass on to others the message of the value you received from us.
As the saying goes: If you are pleased with Precision Hearing, please let your friends know. If you are not pleased, please let us know.
There is no wrong decision if you wear it.
As much as everyone would like, an impaired ear with a hearing aid will never be a perfect ear again, but rest assured, it should be pretty darn good. Our brain is marvelous at adapting to the information it is given, and if it is receiving sounds on a regular basis it will learn to adapt to and appreciate the quality of hearing you do have. You really can’t go wrong if you keep your hearing aid in the ear to allow the brain to process the sounds it is receiving. If it is sitting in your drawer, you made a wrong decision somewhere.