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If you suffer from hearing loss, hearing aids can go a long way in improving your hearing. While all hearing aids use small microphones, digital amplifiers, and speakers to carry sounds from the environment into your ear, they come in a number of different options. This, at times, can make it difficult to find the right one.
Here’s a guide to choosing the right hearing aids for you:
Different Hearing Aid Styles
Hearing aids can greatly vary in size, price, available features, and how they’re placed in your ear. Here are the main types of hearing aid styles from the smallest to the largest:
- Completely in The Canal (cic) or Mini Cic: These are molded to completely fit inside your ear canal and are the most discreet option. They are less likely to detect wind noise and usually contain limited features.
- In the Canal: These fit partly inside your ear canal and offer more features compared to completely in canal options. However, they tend to be more visible.
- In-The-Ear: These include even more features and tend to be more robust and easier to handle, with longer battery life. They are, however, more likely to detect wind noise and are more visible.
- Behind the Ear: These hook over the top of your ears and rests behind them while being connected to a custom earpiece inside your ear canal. Although these are some of the largest options available, they offer increased amplification for those having severe hearing loss.
Features To Lookout For
Depending on the degree and nature of your hearing loss and usage, it may be useful to look out for certain advanced features. These include:
- Noise Reduction: This reduces ambient sounds and is important if you regularly encounter noisy environments.
- Directional Microphones: These allow you to focus on hearing what’s in front of you and are useful if you need to be able to hear conversations in noisy environments.
- Telecoils: These are useful for those looking to extensively use telephones as they can be programmed to let your hearing aid exclusively pick up sounds from your telephone. They can also be used for picking up signals from public induction loop systems.
- Wireless Connectivity: This allows you to connect with Bluetooth-compatible devices including cell phones, music players, and televisions.
- Direct Audio Input: This allows you to use a cord to directly plug into your television, computer, or music device.