When you buy something new, like a car or a laptop, you look for certain features to ensure you pick the right option for your lifestyle. Getting a new pair of hearing aids works the same way.
After your hearing loss diagnosis, your specialist will walk you through the different styles of hearing aids. Standard options include:
- Behind-the-ear (BTE)
- Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC)
- In-the-ear (ITE)
- In-the-canal (ITC)
- Invisible-in-the-canal (IIC)
Beyond the style of hearing aids, you’ll need to think about which features you want. Let’s take a look at a few to help you get a good idea of what will work best for your needs.
Directional Microphones
All hearing aids have omnidirectional microphones, which amplify sound equally from all directions. Some devices also offer directional microphones, which sit at strategic places in your hearing aids to amplify sound in front of and behind you. They’re an excellent option for people who spend a lot of time in meetings or at Yardbird happy hours.
Rechargeable Batteries
Hearing aids come with either disposable or rechargeable batteries. Disposable batteries last three to 10 days, and rechargeable batteries last 20 to 30 hours on a full charge.
Disposable batteries are small and require regular changing. If you have dexterity issues, you might prefer rechargeable options that you can just place in their charging case.
Because you need to charge rechargeable hearing aids every day, they may not be as convenient for people who work long hours or go long periods of time without electricity, like patients who enjoy camping.
Tinnitus Masking
About 90% of tinnitus cases have an underlying hearing loss. Because the symptoms of hearing loss are so common, some hearing aids offer tinnitus-masking features that play soothing sounds to drown out the ringing.
Fall Detection
While still a relatively new technology, some hearing aids have technology that sends alerts to preselected contacts if you fall. Fall detection is an excellent feature for people with simultaneous hearing and balance dysfunction or older adults who live alone.
Schedule Your Consultation
If all these different features feel overwhelming, don’t worry. We’re here to help you through every step of the hearing aid selection and fitting process. Contact Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute today to schedule your consultation with one of our specialists.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.