If you’re struggling to communicate with a vendor at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market, it may be time to get a hearing aid. There are so many hearing aid manufacturers, styles of hearing aids and features available, it can be incredibly overwhelming to figure out which one is right for you. Fortunately, you can rely on the expertise of an audiologist to help you pick the best hearing aid for your lifestyle.
Get a Hearing Test
The first step in getting a hearing aid is to get a hearing test. An audiologist can administer this quickly and painlessly in their clinic. The results of your hearing test are plotted on an audiogram, which is a visual representation of your hearing loss. Your audiologist will then review your audiogram with you to discuss exactly what type and degree of hearing loss you have, as well as what styles of hearing aid would best benefit you.
Choosing a Style
There are many types of hearing aids, including:
- Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids
- In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
- Mini BTEs
- Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids
- Open fit hearing aids
Different styles are suitable for different types and degrees of hearing loss. For example, someone with mild hearing loss may benefit from a discreet IIC or CIC style, whereas someone with more severe hearing loss may need a BTE. Open fit hearing aids are suitable for people who can hear lower frequencies but need assistance with higher frequencies.
Learn about Features
Many of today’s hearing aids have amazing features designed to make listening easy. Some of these features are described below:
- A single overnight charge can allow you to listen all day long. This eliminates the need to take trips to the store for new batteries, and you won’t have to worry about your batteries dying mid-day.
- Bluetooth-capability. Many of today’s hearing aids have Bluetooth capabilities that allow you to connect your hearing aids to your smartphone, tablet or computer. This means your hearing aids essentially act as a wireless headset.
- If you enjoy going to movies, live theater, concerts or conferences, you may want a hearing aid with a telecoil (t-coil), which improves your listening experience in public spaces.
Talk to your audiologist about what other amazing features are available.
For more information about the process of getting a hearing aid or to schedule a hearing test with an expert audiologist, call Topeka ENT today.