When walking down the aisles of Daily Groceries Co-Op, do you ever get overwhelmed by all the choices? When shopping for hearing aids, many people experience the same feeling. There are so many manufacturers, styles and colors to choose from, and it can be hard to decide what’s best for you.
At the Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens, our audiologists are specially trained to help pick the best hearing aid for your unique needs. We provide an overview of how we work with you to make this decision below.
Your Unique Type & Degree of Hearing Loss
The first step in determining what hearing aid is right for you is to determine your precise type and degree of hearing loss through a thorough audiological evaluation. Here at the Georgia Hearing Center, we conduct the following tests:
- Pure tone testing.
- Bone conduction testing.
- Speech testing.
- Tympanometry.
- Acoustic reflex testing.
The results of these tests are charted on an audiogram – a visual representation of your hearing loss – and this is used by the audiologist to select what type of hearing aid will work best for you.
Your Lifestyle Needs
Two people with similar types and degrees of hearing loss won’t necessarily benefit from the same devices.
If you live an active lifestyle with a demanding job, lots of conference meetings and frequent socialization in bars and restaurants, you’ll benefit from higher-tier technology with lots of features.
If you live a quiet lifestyle and prefer to spend most of your time at home or outdoors, you’ll benefit from lower-tier technology that has fewer features but is more budget-friendly.
Your Wish List
Your Georgia Hearing Center audiologist isn’t the only one with a say in what hearing aids you take home. Be sure to do your research so you know what features are available and what you want to take advantage of.
If you want to improve your TV and movie watching experience, you’ll want a device with Bluetooth connectivity, so your hearing aids can act as a wireless headset. These devices can also connect with smartphones so you can take calls hands-free.
If you enjoy listening to music and attending concerts, you’ll want a device with advanced features that help with music clarity. For more information about the types and features of hearing aids available today, call the experts at the Georgia Hearing Center at ENT of Athens today!