Features to Look For When Buying Hearing Aids

When you have had your hearing tested, it is time to decide on the hearing aids you want. Sometimes, this might be dictated by your budget rather than features, but it is important to know that most Audiologists and Hearing Aid Practitioners have access to financing plans to make your purchase more affordable with monthly payments. You can expect to spend $1000 per ear and should plan on up to $2000 per ear for the better quality hearing aids.


Features to look for might be a Directional Microphone System (for the in-the-canal and larger models of other kinds), Feedback Cancellation, Volume Controls to adjust with the push of a button, and Remote controls for volume. Some hearing aids can work like a Bluetooth, and even through your cell phone.

A directional microphone system is especially helpful in restaurants or other settings where there is a lot of background noise. The directional microphone will pick up sounds from in front of you or to the side and not all around you, for example. You don't necessarily want crowd noise amplified, but the person sitting next to you at a sporting event can be heard when you are carrying on a conversation. There are sophisticated models that are capable of reducing varying noise sources and there are some that are automatic or manual where you control whether the system is on.


Feedback cancellation can be used for a variety of reasons. When you think of your hearing aid as a sound system, you can get feedback when the microphone gets amplified sound too close, such as when you are on the phone or if you are hugging somebody and the vent is blocked allowing the amplified sound to loop back around until the vent that is for pressure relief, is cleared. Sometimes, other causes can be earwax buildup when the sound bounces off or you just have a bad fitting hearing aid that needs adjustment. This is a feature that you will want to have because it can get annoying without it.


Volume controls allow for easy adjustment when you are able to hear certain frequencies better than others, or you can have pre-set program modes on some hearing aids where you can press different buttons for different situations, such as crowds, versus talking on the telephone or a normal conversation in person. These can also be controlled with remote controls, if you choose this feature, which some people like because it can be easier than trying to adjust the hearing aid while it is in the ear, or having to remove it to make the adjustments.


No matter which type of hearing aid you choose, they have advanced the technology to make them smaller, more comfortable and they offer different features for better hearing. When it comes to choosing the right one for you, the hearing aid practitioner will make a recommendation on the best type for your situation. You can often choose the additional features you want, although some of the digital hearing aids are quite sophisticated and have many features already built-in for better hearing.