In choosing the right hearing aid for you, a lot of factors must come into consideration – factors like the degree of your hearing loss, lifestyle, budget, and any other feature you may need.
Even though hearing care experts can help you through this decision-making process, it’s good to go into your consultation well-informed. It is also crucial that you make the right choice to ensure perfect hearing.
The following questions will get you well started in choosing the right hearing aid.
What kind of activities do you get involved?
The kind of activities you do (lifestyle) is one of the single most significant factors to consider when you want to buy a hearing aid.
- Do you watch/listen to TV or radio, frequently?
- Do you go swimming often?
- Do you spend a lot of time on the phone?
- Do you go to social gatherings often, like a club or bar?
Answering the above questions will help you and your audiologist to identify the essential things you need to hear, where you need to listen to it, and the level of potential damage that your hearing aid will need to withstand.
Know the different styles of hearing aids
Knowing the different styles/types of hearing aids in Malaysia will help you decide what you want. There are four styles of hearing aids, and each one has its unique benefits. They are:
- Invisible-in-canal (IIC)
- In-the-ear canal (ITC)
- In-the-ear (ITE)
- Behind-the-ear (BTE)
The IIC hearing aid is so small it can sit in the ear canal and are invisible to the eyes.
The ITC and ITE styles fit on the inside of your outer ear and offer more features because they are more prominent. BTE hearing aids are the most familiar. They sit behind the ear with the microphone inserted in the ear canal.
Is it essential to have the latest technology?
Modern hearing aids in Malaysia feature a lot of advanced technological options, but not all may be needed for your unique situation. When you consider what you need to hear and the level of control you want to have over your device, it will help you decide the perfect hearing aid for you.
Some of the modern hearing aid features include:
- Noise reduction
- Directional microphones
- Rechargeable batteries
- Telecoils
- Wireless connectivity
- Remote controls
- Direct audio input
- Variable programming
- Environmental noise control
- Synchronization
- Tinnitus masking features
- Data logging
- Rechargeable batteries
- Apps
These features and more are what you have to decide which is more relevant to you. You can’t have all these features on one hearing aid brand. Well, at least, not yet.
The cost factor
How much are you willing to spend on buying a hearing aid? Investing in hearing aids will cost you some money, especially if you are going to finance it from your savings. The more advanced technological features the hearing aid has, the more expensive it will cost.
So, be honest with how much you want to spend and what features you need in your hearing aid. Research hearing aid price in Malaysia, and decide which style and brand fit your budget.
See an Audiologists
Finally, the most crucial step of all. You have to see an audiologist before you can make the final purchase of your hearing device. He will pass you through a hearing test along with other physical examination of your ears and decide the level of damage to your hearing. With the results he comes up with, he can determine the best way to make improvements and choose the right hearing aid for perfect hearing.