Terri Ramsey Beavers With over 48 million people affected by hearing impairments, taking care of your hearing is one of the best things you do to prevent future hearing loss. Perhaps you have thought about acquiring hearing aids or may have been advised by an expert to do so. With so many types to choose from, you may be wondering how to pick out the right one. You may even be wondering if it will help, or even how it will look on you. So, in this article, we will show you how to choose the right hearing aids.
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
It is important to note that hearing aids are not made to restore hearing. They can only improve your hearing capacity by amplifying the sound waves that are sent to the auditory part of the brain. This helps to improve hearing. Most hearing aids are digitally operated and are powered by batteries. They come with tiny microphones that collect sound and send them to a chip. An amplifier converts the sound waves to be delivered to your ears with the help of speakers.
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Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids come in various types depending on the price, special features, size, and the way they are worn. These are the main hearing aid styles:
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid: This fits completely into the ear canal. It is the smallest style and is rarely visible.
- In the canal style: This hearing aid style fits only partially in the ear canal. It is not as invisible as the CIC.
- Inside the ear style: This style is custom-made. This is usually larger and more visible.
- Other styles include the ones worn behind the ear as ones that come with thin tubes.
Features To Look Out For
Hearing aids come with so many different features depending on the style and cost. These are the main features to look for:
- Noise limitation or reduction: How much noise it screens from entering your eyes.
- Microphones: These collect sounds from the environment to be transmitted for processing.
- Batteries: Hearing aids that come with rechargeable battles are easier to maintain.
- Other features to look for include synchronization, wireless connectivity, telecoils, and remote control features.
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Before Making A Purchase
Before you buy a hearing aid, make sure that you get the proper diagnosis from a doctor to rule out other potential causes of your hearing loss. If a hearing aid is recommended by your doctor, consider how much you can spend, the durability of the product, warranty, etc. to be on the safer side, always ask for the best recommendations from your doctor.
Taking Care Of Your Hearing Aid
Once you purchase the right hearing aid for you, it does not end there. You need to make sure that you take care of it by cleaning it on a daily basis. Daily hearing aid cleaning
prevents the buildup of wax and dirt. To ensure that the batteries last longer, it is best to take them out when not in use – especially at night. Taking good care of your hearing aid will ensure that it lasts long and maintains a high performance.