Comparing Hearing Aids: Shopping Tips

When it comes to buying a new hearing aid, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many different styles available. And you probably have a lot of questions about the features and technology that are out there. You can start by comparing your options. Check out our comparison guide for tips on how to do that. Then, when you’re ready, talk to your hearing care professional about finding the right hearing aid for you.

Listen to How Your Voice Sounds

When you first try on a hearing aid, your voice will be higher than you expect. Use this to your advantage. Listen carefully to the cadence of your speech. Do you slur or draw out certain sounds? Can you distinguish between words that sound alike, like “read” and “red”? Do you speak louder in some situations than others? Check the volume control on your hearing aids and make sure that it is turned up high enough so that it doesn’t distort what you hear.

Try out The Hearing Aids in Different Settings

Try your hearing aid out in different settings. Can you hear better at home than you can in the clinic? Don’t be surprised if that’s true, because there may be more background noise where they measured your audiogram (listening test). To find out how to change between programs on your hearing aids, talk to the hearing care professional who did your fitting.

Use Your Hearing Aid with Your Phone

Phone calls are an important part of life. That’s why it’s important to test your hearing aid when using your smartphone. You don’t have to call anyone; you can just call into your voicemail to determine if you are able to hear clearly or if you need to position the device in a different position. Also, check how well you can hear when using a landline.

Understand how To Change the Battery

Your hearing aids could have rechargeable or disposable batteries. In the case of the latter, getting a jump-start on learning how to change the battery will help you make an informed choice in hearing aid size and style.