How to choose a HEARING AID

According to the World Health Organization, 466 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. It can be difficult to know who to trust when it comes to your hearing healthcare. The best place to start is by consulting with the expert- a reputable audiologist.

EXPERT CARE AND MAINTENANCE

The most important factor in successful hearing aid outcomes is choosing the right professional. A hearing aid, no matter how advanced, is only as good as how well it is programmed and fit. An audiologist is a clinical doctor and is the expert in diagnosing and treating hearing loss. Audiologists spend four years after undergraduate school studying everything hearing relatedfrom pediatrics and cochlear implants to aural rehabilitation and the vestibular (balance) system.

Similar to your relationship with your regular optometrist or dentist, your relationship with your audiologist will be a long term one. Hearing devices need regular maintenance and your hearing requires regular monitoring to ensure great outcomes. It’s important to choose an audiologist who makes you feel comfortable and who you trust for your long-term care.

To ensure you’re seeing a reputable audiologist, ask them the following questions: Do you offer all major hearing aid manufacturers? Some practices are funded or owned by a hearing aid manufacturer, which severely limits your access to a wide range of technology and means you may not be getting the device that’s best suited for you. Do you “lock” your devices? Some practices lock the computer chips inside the aids so that only that practice can program and adjust the aids. That means that if you aren’t happy with their services or they close down business, you’re stuck with aids that cannot be adjusted. Do you perform audiological “best practices” in clu ding real ear measurements, speech in noise testing, and electro-acoustic analysis? These “best practices” are the gold standard in hearing aid fitting, and although they may not mean much to the average consumer, it’s very important to work with an audiologist who abides by them. If your provider isn’t doing these things, they’re cutting corners and sacrificing your quality of care. Your hearing is important, and you deserve to be appropriately fit to your hearing prescription.

How do you structure your pricing? Some practices use “bundled” pricing, meaning that when you purchase hearing aids you also purchase years of services with that practice that you may or may not end up using. Bundled pricing is a major factor in the high prices of hearing aids. If budget is a factor, consider opting for a practice that offers “unbundled”, or itemized pricing. Itemized pricing keeps cost down by allowing you to pick and choose what services and “extras” you need while not paying for things that you don’t need, such as service plans, accessories, or batteries.

TECHNOLOGY LEVELS, RECHARGEABLITILITY, BLUETOOTH…

Choosing a hearing aid can be overwhelming because of the many options available to consumers. Many hearing aids now come with rechargeable options, which means no longer having to deal with changing small batteries. Through Bluetooth connection to phones, TVs, and tablets, you can stream music, shows, and podcasts directly into your ears. Today’s hearing aids come in a wide range of technology levels at different price points. The higher levels of technology do a better job performing in background noise and have more “channels” for your provider to adjust. They are also more “automatic”, constantly scanning your environment for sounds and adjusting accordingly.

Don’t get bogged down by the details! Your audiologist should work with you to select the best manufacturer and level of technology for your lifestyle and your budget.

THE TEAM AT UWHARRIE HEARING IS READY TO WORK WITH YOU!

Now accepting patients by appointment only. (704) 282-6062 info@uwharriehearingdoctors.com www.uwharriehearingdoctors.com Summer Switch-Up! For the month of August, call us and mention this ad to receive up to $400 credit towards new technology when you trade in your current hearing aids (no matter how old) Let this be your time to start hearing better!