| Choosing the best hearing aid is like choosing any | | | | the following: |
| product - it's a matter of weighing the pros and cons | | | | Warranty: A good warranty covers parts, |
| of the many hearing aids on the market. | | | | maintenance and repairs for a specific time period. |
| Choosing the best hearing aid is like choosing the best | | | | Check and compare warranty claims among various |
| car, refrigerator or stereo; it's about choosing the | | | | hearing aid brands.Claims: If a hearing aid company |
| device that most suits the patient's needs. Thanks to | | | | claims it can fully restore hearing, be skeptical. While |
| new developments in hearing aid technology, smaller | | | | hearing aids can greatly help hearing loss and uncover |
| and less obvious hearing aids now pack even more | | | | many lost sounds, they cannot restore perfect |
| power into their tiny equipment. Digital technology | | | | hearing.One-size-fits-all: Like eyeglasses, one type of |
| offers the ability to amplify quiet sounds without | | | | hearing aid won't work for everyone. Only an |
| distorting loud sounds, making it easier for patients to | | | | audiologist can examine the patient's hearing and |
| hear everyday conversations, enjoy music and | | | | recommend specific types of hearing aids to correct |
| participate in every day events. | | | | for hearing loss. Just as an optometrist doesn't |
| Choosing the Best Hearing AidWhen evaluating the | | | | prescribe the exact same lenses to every patient with |
| various hearing aid options, consider the pros and cons | | | | nearsightedness, so too will an audiologist recommend |
| of each. | | | | different options depending upon the patient's hearing |
| Battery life: In general, the smaller hearing aids that fit | | | | loss. |
| into the ear have the shortest battery life. For some | | | | Adjusting to a Hearing AidEven the best hearing aids |
| patients, hiding the hearing aid in the ear canal | | | | require an adjustment period. The National Institute of |
| outweighs the annoyance of changing batteries | | | | Deafness cautions patients to expect certain things: |
| frequently. Other patients may consider the battery life | | | | their own voices may sound too loud, a whistling sound |
| of hearings aids more important and choose another | | | | may be noted, or some sounds may be too loud or |
| larger model with a proportionately larger battery that | | | | too soft. While an audiologist may be able to adjust the |
| needs less frequently updates.Size: Size matters in | | | | hearing aid to compensate for this, some problems |
| terms of hearing aids. Smaller hearing aids may | | | | may be inevitable. Patients are advised to be patient |
| provide less amplification of sounds. It's important to | | | | and try to get used to their new hearing aids. |
| consult with an audiologist, a specialist in hearing, to | | | | Hearing aids can open up a world that was once |
| discover the best hearing aid options for a particular | | | | closed to patients by introducing sound into their lives. |
| patient's circumstances.Cost: Medicare doesn't cover | | | | They can improve the quality of life for senior citizens |
| the cost of hearing aids, but private insurance might, so | | | | and help many participate in normal daily life, making |
| check plans carefully. Some audiologists offer | | | | everything from trips to the grocery store to church |
| payment plans. | | | | meetings easier to navigate. When choosing the best |
| Hearing Aid Basics for Comparison ShoppingTo truly | | | | hearing aids, be sure to evaluate and comparison shop, |
| evaluate the costs and benefits of various hearing | | | | working with an audiologist to discover truly what's the |
| aids, as well as weed our misleading claims, consider | | | | best hearing aid to improve hearing loss. |