If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with hearing loss, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the different hearing aid options on the market. With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to even start! In this blog post, we’ll break down some of the most popular hearing aid features to help you narrow down your search along with how a hearing health professional can help you.
Hearing Aid Types
There are three main types of hearing aids: in-the-ear (ITE), behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-canal (ITC). ITE hearing aids are small and fit completely inside the bowl-shaped area of your outer ear. BTE hearing aids are larger and rest behind your ear, connected to your ear by a plastic tube. ITC hearing aids are small and fit partly into the canal that leads to your eardrum.
The type of hearing aid you choose will depend on the severity of your hearing loss, as well as your lifestyle and personal preferences. For example, people who are very active or have children may prefer a BTE hearing aid because they are less likely to fall out or get damaged. If you have severe hearing loss, this may be the only option for you as well.
However, in this day and age, many hearing aids have great features that you might want to know about. While seeing your hearing health professional will be the best route for learning more about them, let’s take a look at these now.
Hearing Aid Features
Once you’ve decided on a general type of hearing aid, it’s time to start thinking about specific features. Some popular features include:
- Bluetooth compatibility: This allows you to stream audio directly from your phone or other devices into your hearing aid.
- Rechargeability: With this feature, you can say goodbye to fumbling around with tiny batteries! Many newer models of hearing aids can be charged overnight and will last all day long.
- Directional microphones: These mics help amplify sounds coming from in front of you while attenuating sounds coming from the sides and rear, making it easier to follow conversations in noisy environments.
- Telecoils: These special coils pick up sound signals from compatible devices like phones, TVs and public address systems. Telecoils can be especially helpful for people who have trouble understanding speech in noisy places.
The Hearing Aid Features You Need to Know About
There’s a lot to think about when choosing a hearing aid, but hopefully, this overview has given you a better idea of where to start. To learn more about the different types and features of hearing aids, be sure to contact a qualified hearing health professional in your area.
By seeing a hearing health professional, you will be able to learn a lot more about your hearing and what will work best for you. You can also discuss the types of hearing aids and their features so that you can make the best possible choice to aid your hearing.
