Hearing Aid Features to Consider

If you are experiencing hearing loss, having the right hearing aid can make a huge difference to your quality of life. With that in mind here are some hearing aid features to consider when making your choice.

The Basic Style

There are three major styles of hearing aid. Going from the largest to the smallest, they are behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) and in the canal (ITC). Having said that BTE hearing aids are the largest, it’s worth noting that they have shrunk a lot in size over the years. They are now at a point where they offer a very attractive balance of discretion and ease of use.

ITE and ITC hearing aids are even smaller and hence offer even more discretion. This does mean, however, that they can be more challenging to fit and remove. It also means that they may not be able to deliver the same power as BTE hearing aids.

When your audiologist assesses your hearing, they will be able to advise whether or not ITE and ITC hearing aids would be able to deliver the assistance you need. If so, it would then be up to you to decide whether they would be a good fit for your lifestyle. When considering this issue, remember that hearing aids generally last for three to seven years.

The Battery

Hearing aids are powered by batteries and, sooner or later, these run out. When they do, they need to be changed. You can, however, reduce the number of times you need to change your hearing aid’s battery by opting for a hearing aid with a rechargeable battery. Rechargeable batteries are good for the environment too.

Remote Control

In theory, a remote control may be a want rather than a need. Remote controls are, however, so convenient they arguably border on being a need. Up until fairly recently, remote controls had to be stand-alone physical devices. They still can be. You can, however, now get hearing aids that can be worked by a mobile app.

There is still an argument in favor of having a stand-alone remote control. These are optimized for use as remote controls and have their own batteries. You also don’t have to worry about whether or not they will go on working if you change your phone. There’s also an argument for the convenience of having an app on a phone you’re likely to be carrying anyway.

If you can’t make up your mind which you prefer, or you just want maximum flexibility, you could look at hearing aids that support both options. These are increasingly common due to consumer demand.

Directional Microphones

Directional microphones are essentially microphones optimized to prioritize sound coming from the front over sound coming from the sides and back. These can make a huge difference to your ability to hear in noisy environments, including busy streets.

Support for Profiles

If you have an everyday routine that takes you into several, distinct, environments, you may appreciate a hearing aid with the ability to store profiles. That way, you can activate exactly the right settings for that environment with the press of a button.

Noise-reduction Capability

These days, it’s practically guaranteed that a hearing aid will have some form of noise-reduction capability. Some hearing aids, of course, have more noise-reduction capability than others. Larger hearing aids have more physical space for noise-reduction equipment. They can therefore be more efficient at canceling out unwanted noise.

Telecoils

Telecoils allow you to make use of induction loop systems. These are found in some telecoms. They are, however, more common in public buildings such as places of worship, government buildings and entertainment venues. Induction loops help to eliminate background noise and amplify the person or other sound you want to hear.

Direct Audio Input

Cords may be going out of fashion generally, but they still have their uses, particularly when it comes to listening to audio. At present, if you really want a high-quality listening experience, a corded headset is still the way to go. This means that music lovers and film fans might want to look for a hearing aid that supports direct audio input.

To learn more please contact GL Wyeno Hearing Specialists PC at (402) 463-2431. We look forward to hearing from you.