A Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

Are you looking for your first pair of hearing aids? You want hearing aids that will look great, feel good, and help you hear all the sounds you’re missing. If you’re shopping for hearing aids, here’s a guide to get you started. 

How Do Hearing Aids Work?

Let’s start with the basics. Hearing aids have a few parts that all work together to help you hear. These parts include:

• A microphone that picks up all the sounds in your environment.
• An amplifier and computer chip that converts sound into electrical signals then changes or amplifies the sound to help you hear.
• A receiver or speaker that converts the electrical signals back into sound waves and plays these sounds into your ear canal.
• A battery that powers the hearing aid.

Hearing Aid Styles

There are several hearing aids styles to choose from. The perfect style for you depends on your hearing needs, your hearing preferences, and your lifestyle. These are the most common hearing aid styles.

Completely In The Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids

CIC hearing aids are the smallest hearing aids you can find. These sit entirely inside your ear canal. This style is perfect if you have mild or moderate hearing loss, and you have an active lifestyle. However, because it’s so small it can be harder to handle or change the batteries.

In The Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

ITC hearing aids also rest mainly in the ear canal, with a small portion in the outer ear above the ear canal. This style is recommended for anyone with mild to moderate hearing loss. With a bit of extra space and a slightly larger battery, these hearing aids can run more complex programs. It’s great for people with an active lifestyle, but it may also be difficult to adjust because it’s so small.

In The Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

ITC hearing aids are custom-made devices that sit inside the outer ear, resting in the bowl-shaped area of your ear. They’re perfect for anyone with mild to severe hearing loss. They have additional advanced programs and settings to help you hear and they have a longer battery life. However, they may pick up more wind noise, and they may be uncomfortable under helmets or hats.

Behind The Ear (BTE) and Receiver In Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids

BTE and RIC hearing aids are sophisticated hearing devices that can treat any level of hearing loss, from mild to profound. They house a larger battery in the part of the hearing aids that tucks behind your ear. They also have an earpiece that sits in the ear canal. These hearing aids are recommended for people of all ages, including children, teens, adults, and older adults. They’re easy to handle and they have a powerful battery that can run the most complex programs and settings.

Think About the Features You Want

As you look for your next hearing aids, think about the features you want in your devices. Most hearing aids have directionality microphones, background noise reduction, speech enhancement, and wind suppression. Additional features you can choose include:

• Rechargeable batteries
• Tinnitus management programs
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Telecoil technology
• Variable programming
• Artificial intelligence
• Feedback management

Ask Before You Buy

There are lots of things to consider before you buy hearing aids, so feel free to ask lots of questions! We are here to make sure that you fully understand all the programs and features available with your hearing aids options. Hearing aid technology is new to a lot of people. 

Our team is here to ensure you’re completely confident in your investment. We’ll walk you through the programs and features of the hearing aids that are most compatible with your lifestyle and hearing needs. Visit us today and let us help you pick the perfect devices.