Steps to purchasing a hearing aid:
1) Find a local hearing care professional you trust.
This person will guide the process and help you make the best decision based on your level of hearing loss and specific preferences. Make sure the location is near your home and also accessible, if you travel.
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2) Complete a lifestyle assessment.
Your daily routine is the most important determining factor when selecting the right hearing aids for you. Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Are you retired or still work? Are you often in noisy environments? Bring your responses to your free hearing evaluation.
3) Review your health history.
Your general health, medications you take or have taken, childhood illnesses, and your current hearing loss symptoms all influence the choice of hearing aid model appropriate for you. Make some notes that you can share with your hearing care professional when you come in for an office visit.
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4) Have a comprehensive hearing exam.
At Beltone, we always start with a free comprehensive hearing evaluation. This is the best way to determine your type and level of hearing loss. First, we use an otoscope to visually inspect your ear canal and eardrum. Some cases of hearing loss are actually caused by earwax, eardrum perforation or an abnormality of the outer ear.
Next, hearing ability is measured in each ear using tones of different frequencies, and speech sounds played through earphones. The results of these tests are plotted on a graph called an audiogram.
5) Review your audiogram results with a professional.
If a hearing loss is detected, your audiogram will show what kind of hearing loss you have (conductive, sensori-neural or mixed) and if your hearing loss is mild, moderate, severe, or profound.
These factors are essential to know when you choosing the style, shape, size, and circuitry of the hearing aids that are right for you.
Read up on the various levels of hearing loss
6) Try before you buy.
Today's hearing aids are easy to wear. They can automatically adjust sound according to changing environments, remember your listening preferences, recognize the difference between speech and other sounds, and so much more. Best of all, they're tiny and light, so they're practically undetectable.
Demonstration models let you experience the look and feel of those hearing aids best suited to your hearing loss, lifestyle, and expectations. Take a “test drive” before you buy to achieve a positive outcome.
Learn about the different styles of hearing aids available
7) Ask about follow-up care.
Once your hearing care professional fits you with new hearing aids, aftercare is recommended. Your hearing can change over time, requiring subtle adjustments to your hearing aids. Plus, hearing aids are highly sophisticated digital devices that perform best when regularly maintained.
