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Choose the Right Hearing Aids for You
Ed became an audioprosthologist because he wanted to be able to help people enjoy better hearing, which can ultimately improve their quality of life in ways they never thought possible. His approach to patient care is highly personalized and informative.
Latest posts by Ed Kocher, ACA, BC-HIS (see all)
- Navigating the Conversation: The Significance of Thoughtful Disclosure in Hearing Loss - December 10, 2023
- The Sound of Dreams: Understanding How Hearing Loss Impacts Dreaming - November 7, 2023
- Traveling Effectively with Hearing Aids - October 16, 2023
Choose the Right Hearing Aids for You
One of the barriers that people encounter in seeking hearing loss solutions is a lack of knowledge regarding the types of interventions available. It can be overwhelming to consider sorting through the myriad options on the market.
But the good news is that this task is something that most audiologists encounter every day. Our mission is to pair people with the hearing loss solutions that work for each individual. With our assistance, you can choose the right hearing aids for you!
How Hearing Loss Works
As we age, many cells within the body decline in health and resiliency. We can see the effects of time on the body when wrinkles and saggy skin show up on our bodies. Hidden out of sight, a parallel process is occurring inside of our bodies. This is true of the inner ear cells, which are worn down over time or in the event of exposure to excessive noise. The hearing loss that emerges is most often irreversible, but it’s also highly treatable!
There are proven and successful hearing loss solutions designed for almost every individual need.
The Benefits Of Treating Hearing Loss
Don’t wait until your hearing loss becomes unmanageable before you seek intervention. It can make the acclimation process more difficult, but the worst part is that you’ll have spent years or even decades needlessly living with untreated hearing loss.
Studies show that there are mental, emotional and physical benefits of treating hearing loss when it appears. It can help to mitigate depression and the sense of isolation often reported by people living with hearing loss. Hearing aids are credited with improving relationships when implemented. And, hearing aids are recommended by experts as a method of reducing the risk of future cognitive decline, like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
An Overview Of Hearing Aid Design
Fundamentally, hearing aids are composed of very basic parts: a microphone, battery and speaker. While there are a plethora of different options and upgrades on the market, there are two basic designs in hearing aid models: in-the- ear and behind-the-ear.
This designation refers to the way the hearing aid parts sit on or within the ear of the wearer. In-the-ear models, in which all parts are housed within the ear or ear canal, are a great choice for less severe hearing loss and tend to be more discreet. Some models are so small that they can’t be seen. The drawback of this type of hearing aid is that they require more dexterity in operating.
Behind-the-ear models usually separate the microphone, which picks up sound, from the speaker, which delivers the sound. As you can imagine, the vast majority of these types of hearing aid settle the microphone and battery behind the ear while the speaker sits inside the ear canal. This type of hearing aid is great for more severe types of hearing loss and are less susceptible to moisture damage. While they tend to be the more visible option, modern models can be sleek and chic, too.
Analyze Your Priorities
Where do you find your hearing loss to be the most obstructive to a vibrant life? Answer this question and you’ll get the answer as to what your greatest priority in treating hearing loss lies. Be up front about this concern with your audiologist and they’ll be able to present you with more focused options.
Be Specific About Your Lifestyle
The more specific information you give your audiologist, the better they are able to match you with a hearing health solution that matches perfectly to your unique lifestyle. For instance, your hobbies may prompt you to ask for a water resistant hearing aid. But the hobby you partake in is quite relevant. If you’re a runner and wand hearing aids that withstand sweat and rainy days, a water resistant model will work perfectly for you. However, if water is a concern because you’re an avid sailor, you’ll probably want to look more deeply into waterproof hearing aids, which are manufactured differently.
We don’t expect you to know the ins and out of waterproof versus water resistant — that’s our job! But it does help us to know the details of your lifestyle and priorities in order to give you the most successful outcome possible.
Be Realistic About Your Tech Level
The bells and whistles of high tech models can be seductive, but they’re only useful if you can easily use them! Be realistic with yourself and your hearing health team about what type of tech you are most comfortable with and don’t waste money on upgrades you’ll never access.
Schedule A Chat With Our Team Today
We love talking about hearing health, so reach out today to speak to a member of our team!
