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What is the best hearing aid?
This is similar to asking what is the best car! Hearing aids,
like eye glasses, must be fit to your particular hearing loss. One
hearing aid will not fit everybody. There are about thirty
manufacturers of hearing aids all over the world. We believe
it is best to consult with an audiologist (a hearing healthcare
professional) who is not restricted to
sales of only one brand because he or she is then free to choose the
best solution for your needs from all manufacturers.
Why do hearing aids vary so much in cost?
As with automobiles, it’s what’s "under the hood" that determines
cost. The most expensive hearing aid circuitry is digital or
programmable, while the simplest Class A circuits are fairly
inexpensive. Hearing aids are now available at a very modest
cost. Digital circuits contain a computer chip that allows the
audiologist (a hearing healthcare professional) to program literally hundreds of adjustments into your
hearing aids. Digital hearing aids produce the best sound
quality available today and can be reprogrammed should your hearing
change.
What do all hearing aids have in common?
Although there are many options when selecting the right hearing
aid, all hearing aids need certain components in order to transport
sound from the environment into your ear. These components include:
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A
microphone (picks up the sound)
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An
amplifier (increases sound volume)
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A
speaker (broadcasts sound into ear)
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A
battery (provides power to the hearing aid)
Are two hearing aids better than one?
Two hearing aids are better then one for a variety of reasons. With only one hearing aid, it is a lot harder to determine the
direction that a sound came from and could delay your reaction to
that sound. Your sense of balance relies on both ears receiving
signals to be able to properly maintain your balance. With only one
hearing aid, the hearing and word discrimination in the unaided ear
will deteriorate quicker without a hearing aid. |
