What type of hearing aid do I need?
If an aidable hearing loss is identified during your hearing aid assessment and you want to discuss options, the Audiologist should advise you on different types and styles of hearing aids available.
The type and style of a hearing aid defines the features it has and therefore directly impacts the overall performance.
Factors to consider when choosing a hearing aid style are:
Audibility
- Are the hearing aids powerful enough to provide sufficient volume levels to meet your hearing loss?
- is there any reserve volume left so that if your hearing changes your aids will still be able to meet your needs?
Speech understanding
- Do you need hearing aids with features to help you understand speech in quiet and in background noise?
- Are hearing aids alone sufficient for you to hear comfortably in complex listening environments or at a distance?
Listening comfort
- Are the hearing aids capable of keeping sounds both audible and comfortable in a range of listening environments?
Usability
- Do you prefer hearing aids with disposable batteries or rechargeable devices?
- Do you want to be able to adjust volume and/or listening programs yourself or would you prefer the hearing aids to adjust settings automatically based on your listening environment?
- Do you have any other health conditions to take into consideration (like reduced dexterity or impaired vision)?
- Do you want to have the option of app control?
Aesthetics
- Are you happy with how the hearing aids look and feel in your ears?
Connectivity
- Do you want to be able to connect your hearing aids to other devices to stream music, watch TV or talk on the phone?
Personalisation
- Do you want to customise the colour of your hearing aids?
- Do you want to be able to fine tune and store settings via app control?
To allow you to make an informed decision, the Audiologist should outline the level of benefit each type of device can provide in relation to your challenging listening environments and answer any questions you may have. You can then work together to prioritise your needs and choose the best hearing solution for you.
Aftercare
It is also important to find out what support is available from your provider and how easy it is to access.
Some things to consider are:
- Will you see the same clinician for each appointment?
- Can you be seen promptly if you are experiencing any issues?
- Are there any additional charges for aftercare?
- How often will your hearing be retested?
- Will you need to purchase any maintenance items like wax filters, domes or batteries?
- Is wax removal included as part of the aftercare?
- How long is the hearing aid warranty for?
- How long is an accessory warranty for?
If you have noticed a change in your hearing or are considering hearing aids and would like to book an appointment, please get in touch with your nearest location today.
- Belfast |028 9066 7030
- Ballykelly |028 7707 6050
- Donaghadee |028 9188 4188
- Holywood |028 9085 9900
- Newtownabbey |028 9085 9900