Programmable Technology
Do you want hearing aids customized for you? There is no doubt that customers are more satisfied with programmable technology, but some find it to be outside of their price range. Advanced programmable technology allows the dispenser to adjust the hearing aid to your specific hearing loss characteristics with more precision. If the product does not meet your needs, let us know! We can adjust the hearing aid at our office versus sending it back to the manufacturer. Additionally, programmable technology allows us to adjust the hearing aids based on your personal reaction to sounds. Depending on your lose, you may be sensitive to specific sounds and struggle in noisy situations. With programmable hearing aids, we can take all of that into consideration and customize your aids for you.
A second advanced feature to consider is directional hearing aids. They have either two or three microphones in them. Because of their design they are able to reduce annoying background noise and improve your ability to understand speech in more difficult listening situations. If you are an active person, directional hearing aids will result in enhanced speech intelligibility in more listening situations. A study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute found significant improvements in customer satisfaction when patients were wearing directional aids. More studies are currently underway, but we believe programmable directional hearing aids should be the technology of choice where applicable.
Controls
Decide if you want a set of hearing aids with automatic or adjustable settings. Some people like to personally control their hearing aids while others feel prefer less hassle. From my experience, there are a few reasons why patients would want to have control over the setting of their aids. For some, the automatic settings are not satisfactory for every type of environment they plan to be in. Others are long time wearers of hearing aids with controls and prefer to stick to their old habits. It is merely a personal preference. If you want to be able to adjust your aids yourself, usually we set up a volume control and multiple memory switch (for different environments) at your first fit appointment.
Do Not Purchase Based Only on Cosmetics
Because of hearing loss stigma or embarrassment, many consumers come into our office and begin, "I would like one of those invisible hearing aids that I saw on TV." It is true that the hearing aid industry has reduced the size of hearing aids to near invisibility. It is understandable some will gravitate towards the least noticeable option. The same person may opt for contacts rather than glasses. The problem is that the smallest hearing aid may not be the most suitable hearing solution for you. At our office, we will only sell invisible options to those who are good candidates. The process is simple, yet thorough. First we examine your ears. In this, we are accessing the size, shape, and health of your ear canal. Any extreme bends would make a tiny hearing aid difficult to stay in the canal. Next we measure your hearing loss. If your type of hearing loss requires more power, you may not be a good candidate for invisible solutions. Finally, we assess your lifestyle. Because they are so small, good manual dexterity is a must. If you cannot comfortably handle your hearing aids, you will be constantly frustrated. If it is determined that you are not a good candidate, there are an array of other products we can suggest for you. It is most important to us you get the best prescription for your loss.
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