Things to Know Before Buying Hearing Aids

With age comes new challenges. A common one being hearing loss. Hearing loss can lead to decreased quality of life and has been identified as a risk factor for dementia. Hearing aids are an effective way to improve the situation and the sooner they are introduced the better the outcome. However, there are some things to consider before buying them.
• You may have to buy more than one: We hear with both of our ears. Even if one ear is worse than the other, using two hearing aids has been shown to drastically improve hearing. There are cases where only one aid is needed, but that is a discussion to have with a hearing professional.
• Check your insurance: Depending on the insurance policy, some things related to hearing aids may or may not be covered. It’s important to know what is covered so one can plan accordingly.
• Have realistic expectations: Hearing aids are just that: aids. They do not restore hearing to normal, but they do help counteract the effects of hearing loss.
• No two experiences are the same: Just because one person had a bad experience doesn’t mean everyone will. Our ears are different from their size to their shape. Individual differences all come into play when trying to find a good fitting aid.
• Battery life and size: It’s important to consider the batteries when picking out a hearing aid. Smaller ones will have smaller batteries. These smaller batteries need to be changed more often.
Hearing aids are a great tool to combat hearing loss, so check with your local audiologist to see if a pair could help you.