Hearing aids can improve your quality of life in a very significant way, especially if you have severe hearing loss. But many people are apprehensive about wearing them and they have a lot of big questions for their audiologist. Here are four frequently asked questions about hearing aids.
What kind of hearing aids do I need?
People are surprised by how many different types of hearing aids there are and how many different features they have. Knowing which ones are right for you can be difficult, but your audiologist will be able to help you select the right ones based on the severity of your hearing loss.
The three main types of hearing aid are in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC), and behind the ear (BTE). ITE and ITC hearing aids are more discreet when you are wearing them, but they may not be powerful enough for people with severe hearing loss. BTE hearing aids are bigger and more noticeable, but they have a bigger battery and more features because there is more space for electronics in the section that sits behind the ear.
Which hearing aid features are best?
There are so many features to consider when choosing hearing aids and many people don’t know which features are best. There is no right answer here because it depends on your own specific needs with hearing loss, but there are certain features that most people benefit from. These include:
- Directional microphones
- Telecoils or Bluetooth connectivity
- Feedback management
- Rechargeable batteries
If you speak to a professional about your needs, they will advise you on which hearing aids features are best for you.
How long do hearing aid batteries last?
If your hearing aids use disposable batteries, you will usually have to change them around once a week, but it depends on how often you wear them and how you use them. For example, if you have wireless hearing aids that connect to your television, this will drain more power and the batteries won’t last as long.
Many modern hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries and these usually need to be charged each night when you take them out to go to bed. The batteries should last as long as the hearing aids themselves.
How often should I update my hearing aids?
The average pair of hearing aids lasts somewhere between three and seven years, depending on how well you clean and maintain them. However, hearing aid technology is always changing and better hearing aids are released on a regular basis. You should speak to your audiologist about any new advances and whether if you would benefit from them with your specific type of hearing loss. In some cases, adding new features will drastically improve your hearing and make a big difference to your quality of life.
When you have maintenance issues with your hearing aids and they are not working as well as they used to, you should see an audiologist for adjustments. However, they may need to be replaced if this doesn’t solve the problem.
If you have any more questions about hearing aids or hearing loss, you should speak to an audiologist.
