Always seek the best when it comes to your health
There’s been a shift in the healthcare industry over the last decade or so in how people are prioritizing their health and wellness. People are investing more time and money into their overall well-being and are taking a more active role in their health, whether it be preventative care or treatment for specific conditions.
We’ve noticed a similar change in the hearing care space, and we’re glad to see more people prioritizing their hearing as a part of their overall health. And, with this shift, we’ve also noticed an uptick in the question, “What is the best hearing aid?” And it makes sense! People want the very best for their health, and that includes their hearing care.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive ranking of the best hearing aids because hearing loss is such a unique and individual experience. No two people will experience hearing loss in the same way, so it would be irresponsible to treat hearing loss with one-size-fits-all solutions.
While a hearing care professional can make hearing aid recommendations based on your personal situation, it’s important to know what kind of hearing aid you think you might want, and there are some key factors that go into picking the best hearing aid for you.
Hearing Aids 101: Styles, functions, and fit
Choosing a hearing aid can feel daunting at first, but a hearing care professional can help you better understand the options available to your unique case and the benefits of each style and fit. But, it is helpful to understand the basics of hearing aids before you see an expert so you can make a more educated decision for your health.
How do hearing aids work?
Though there are a variety of different styles of hearing aids and several brands that design and produce them, the general function of hearing aids is the same. A microphone picks up external sounds, the sound is transferred to an amplifier which converts sound into electrical signals, and the speaker delivers those signals to the inner ear.
These three main components work together to essentially mimic the process that organs in your ear use to turn external sounds into something that your brain can interpret and understand.
What are the different hearing aid styles?
As you may know, there are several different styles of hearing aids, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons for the wearer. Weighing those pros and cons against your goals and needs is why hearing aids are such a personalized choice. Here’s a quick look at some of the different types of hearing aids available, and why you may choose one or the other.
Behind the Ear (BTE): When you think about hearing aids, BTE is probably what you think of. These hearing aids sit behind your ear with a tube connecting the device to the ear canal. They are a very effective option for just about any level of hearing loss.
Receiver in Canal (RIC): Similar to BTE hearing aids, RIC hearing aids sit in a similar place and can be suitable for a wide range of hearing loss, but the location of the speaker is different. In RIC hearing aids, the speaker sits at the end of the tube that is placed in the ear canal.
Completely in the Canal (CIC): CIC hearing aids are custom-fit to sit deeply in the ear canal, making them almost invisible to the naked eye. However, they aren’t powerful enough to treat more severe cases of hearing loss, and not everyone’s ear canals are large enough for this style.
In the Ear (ITE): ITE hearing aids are a good middle ground for a lot of hearing aid wearers: they are molded to your ear, making them comfortable and looking nice, but they are still large and powerful enough to treat more severe hearing loss cases.
How to choose the best hearing aid for you
Working with your hearing care provider is the best way to pick the best hearing aid option for your hearing loss and lifestyle, but there are two main things you and your provider will consider when picking a hearing aid style:
The severity of hearing loss: The severity of your hearing loss is the most important consideration for choosing a hearing aid because not every style of hearing aid can treat more severe cases of hearing loss. In general, the worse your hearing loss, the larger and more powerful your hearing aids will need to be (though, there are always exceptions).
Lifestyle: Wearing hearing aids can be a big adjustment for some people, and if you live a very active lifestyle or spend a lot of time outside, some hearing aids will be better suited for you than if you spend most of your time inside or are mostly sedentary.
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Try before you buy with Colorado Ear Care’s 3D hearing aid process
Hearing aids can feel like a big investment for some people, and that’s why we’ve developed a process that allows you to explore your options before you commit to a purchase. It’s a one-week, no-risk trial with three steps:
- Diagnose: We’ll conduct a thorough hearing test and exam to determine the severity of your hearing loss and help us recommend the best hearing aid for you.
- Demo: You’ll get to try hearing aids in the real world for a week with no payment out of pocket.
- Decide: After a week, you’ll assess how the trial went with your provider and determine if the demoed devices are the best choice for you.
At Colorado Ear Care, we leverage our decades of experience in hearing care to help patients choose the best hearing aid for their unique hearing loss, lifestyle, and needs. Schedule an appointment with our team to get started on your journey to better hearing with hearing aids today.