Is buying hearing aids online a good idea?

Hearing aids are irreplaceable helpers for people with hearing loss. These small devices restore a person’s hearing, enabling them to live a fulfilling life. While hearing aids are easy to use, choosing them is quite a challenging task.

This is a really important stage in the life of a hearing-impaired person. Indeed, a large number of both manufacturers and device models makes the whole process very confusing, and complicated , since it is difficult for an ordinary person to understand the abundance of models and their characteristics. Only a qualified specialist can successfully figure this out. Let’s explore what to look for when choosing a hearing aid and where to buy one.

What’s the first step?

 

Do you or your loved one experience hearing problems? If this is the case, seek the help of an experienced hearing care professional. Hearing loss, like any other disorder, will not go away with time, but, on the contrary, will only get worse. You should not resort to self-medication, including herbal medicine and other unconventional methods that have become so popular in recent years. You will only harm your health.

Therefore, if you plan to use a hearing aid, then you will need to get your hearing evaluated professionally. The diagnostic results allow you to determine the degree of hearing loss, and, following the results, choose the most suitable model of the hearing aid. It is worth noting that an experienced audiologist performs the audiometry using the appropriate equipment. Such tests cannot be done at home.

How to buy hearing aids correctly?

 

Modern technologies have become widely accepted in our daily life, so it is not surprising that many people explore the option of buying hearing aids online. This purchase has its advantages:

• Wide range of models. Online stores provide a wide range of hearing aids from most well-known manufacturers
• No need to go anywhere. You can buy a hearing aid online from the comfort of your home
• Lower price than retail

There is nothing wrong with people trying to save their money. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that in this case, they are more likely to buy a device that will not help them. As a result, they will become frustrated with hearing aids, although the devices are not the problem. Moreover, online stores often sell a sound amplifier falsely labeled as  a hearing aid. Of course, such a device is not suitable for the treatment of hearing loss. Large resellers like Amazon keep track of product descriptions, while smaller marketplaces don’t always pay enough attention to this. As a result, a person,  purchasing hearing aids online, receives a product, shall we say, not of the best quality. Instead of saving, the person eventually overpays even more.

Audiology Island does not recommend you to pick devices on your own and buy them online. Only an audiologist can choose the right model, based on the results of diagnostics and the individual characteristics of the patient. Nevertheless, if you decide to buy a hearing aid online, Dr. Zhanneta Shapiro has prepared a list of the main criteria to look out for when choosing a device.

The required amount (one or two)

Binaural hearing aids have several advantages. They make it easier to localize the sound source, improve speech intelligibility, especially in difficult acoustic situations, eliminate the head shadow effect, and allow the left and right ear to work equally. But binaural prosthetics are not for everyone. In addition, some people find it more difficult to use two devices or they do not feel the need to do so.

Device power

The hearing aid must have sufficient power to compensate for the hearing loss and must have sufficient power headroom. It is advisable to purchase hearing aids online for several years and it is not always possible to accurately predict further changes in hearing.

Device type

When choosing a device, you should first pay attention to its quality and only then to aesthetic characteristics. Let’s distinguish 3 main types of devices:

• Behind the ear (BTE). The device is placed behind the ear. A tube with an earmold is guided into the ear canal. They are produced in various sizes – from micromodels to large sizes. Tubes and earmolds are also different
• In-the-ear (ITE). The device is located inside the ear canal or in the auricle. The large size provides increased power and long battery life
• Completely-In-the canal (ITC). Miniature devices fit only in the ear canal. They are almost invisible but less powerful and more difficult to clean

Additional functions

A modern hearing aid is a highly sophisticated device that has various additional functions depending on the model chosen. Thanks to this, you can choose a device that will fully meet your needs daily. What additional functions are there?

• Water protection
• Wireless data transmission technologies for communication with smartphones, audio players, and computers
• Switching between programs with different settings
• Automatic adjustment to the acoustic environment and much more

Choosing a hearing aid manufacturer

When choosing a manufacturer, one should give preference to leading companies with extensive experience in the production of hearing aids. Renowned manufacturers have a wide range of hearing aids and accessories. These companies provide a warranty for their products and have a well-organized structure of service centers in the United States. If you give preference to a little-known manufacturer, then in the future you may encounter problems with service, as well as with setting up the device and the availability of accessories.

Today the market provides a wide variety of hearing aid styles and designs. This allows audiologists to choose a device according to individual preferences and lifestyle. Such an approach makes everyday use of hearing aids as comfortable and discreet as possible.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a hearing aid. Take note of our tips and you will have a great device that will make your life much easier. We recommend that you contact a hearing care professional who will find the right model for you.

Why is choosing Audiology Island the right decision?

 

The ability to buy goods online is a truly amazing human achievement, which saves both time and money. Can I buy a hearing aid online without going to a specialist? Of course not. Without consulting an audiologist, you are unlikely to be able to find a device that will optimally meet your needs and individual characteristics. Don’t know how to buy hearing aids? Get help from real professionals at Audiology Island.

Our clinic will provide you with the most modern audiological equipment and quality services. We will draw up and analyze an audiogram, which will determine the degree of hearing loss. Then we will listen to your wishes and only after all these steps recommend a suitable model. A detailed consultation is especially relevant for those who have not used such devices before. After all the recommendations, you can choose the place to buy the device yourself.

Many patients believe that it is enough to put on hearing aids, just turn them on and that’s it. This is far from the case. Any model needs to be tweaked before use to get the best results.

What about the adaptation period? Believe it or not, it will take some time before you can fully use the devices. The brain needs time to recall the lost sound signals again. How to ease the adaptation period and reduce it? Only audiologists know the answer to this question, and can properly guide you through this process.

As you can see, when you buy a hearing aid online, you are not getting the medical services you need to use your hearing aids correctly!

Do you want to restore your hearing so that you can hear your favorite voices and sounds again without any complications? Welcome to Audiology Island! We have already helped thousands of Americans, and we will definitely help you too!