Many types of hearing aids exist. So which is best for you? Find out what to consider when choosing a hearing aid.
Perhaps you have thought about getting a hearing aid, but you are worried about how it will look and wonder whether it will really help. Knowing more about the hearing aid options available to you, what to look for when buying a hearing aid and how to break it in may help alleviate some of your concerns.
Hearing aid styles
All hearing aids contain the same parts to carry sound from the environment into your ear. However, hearing aids do come in a number of styles, which differ in size and the way they are placed in your ear. Some are small enough to fit inside your ear canal, making them almost invisible. Others fit partially in your ear canal.
Generally, the smaller a hearing aid is, the less powerful it is, the shorter its battery life and the more it will cost. The following are common hearing aid styles.
Completely in the canal: Completely-in-the-canal hearing aids are molded to fit inside your ear canal and can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
In the canal: An in-the-canal hearing aid is custom molded and fits partly in the ear canal, but not as deeply as the completely-in-the-canal aid. This hearing aid can improve mild to moderate hearing loss in adults.
Half-shell: A smaller version of the in-the-canal hearing aid, the half-shell is custom molded and fills the lower portion of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is appropriate for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
In the ear (full shell): An in-the-ear (full-shell) hearing aid is custom made and fills most of the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. This style is helpful for people with mild to severe hearing loss.
Behind the ear: Behind-the-ear hearing aids hook over the top of your ear and rest behind the ear. The hearing aid picks up sound, amplifies it and carries the amplified sound to an ear mold that fits inside your ear canal. This type of aid is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss and for people of all ages.
Open fit: These are very small behind-the-ear-style devices. Sound travels from the instrument through a small tube or wire to a tiny dome or speaker in the ear canal. These aids leave the ear canal open, so they are best for mild to moderate high-frequency losses where low-frequency hearing is still normal or near normal.
Before the purchase: Steps to take
When looking for a hearing aid, explore your options to understand what type of hearing aid will work best for you. Also:
* Get a checkup. See your doctor to rule out correctable causes of hearing loss, such as earwax, an infection or a tumor, and have your hearing tested by a hearing specialist (audiologist).
* Ask about a trial period. A hearing aid should come with an adaptation period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it is useful.
* Check for a warranty. Make sure the hearing aid includes a warranty that covers both parts and labor for a specified amount of time.
* Beware of misleading claims. Hearing aids cannot restore normal hearing or eliminate all background noise. Beware of advertisements or salespeople who claim otherwise.
* Plan for the expense. The cost of hearing aids varies widely. Talk to your audiologist about your needs and expectations. If cost is an issue, good instruments are still available at reasonable prices.
After the purchase: Breaking in your hearing aid
Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. Your listening skills should improve gradually as you become accustomed to amplification. The sound you hear is different because it is amplified. Even your own voice sounds strange when you wear a hearing aid. When first using a hearing aid, keep these points in mind:
* Hearing aids will not return your hearing to normal. Unlike corrective eyewear that restores your vision to normal, hearing aids cannot restore normal hearing. They can improve your hearing, however, by amplifying soft sounds and reducing loud background noises.
* Allow time to get used to the hearing aid. It may take several weeks or months before you are used to the hearing aid. But the more you use it, the more quickly you will adjust to amplified sounds. By wearing your hearing aid regularly and taking good care of it, you will likely notice significant improvements in your quality of life.
Source: The Daily Star, may 23, 2009
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