How to Buy a Good Hearing Aid for Your Parents

Statistics from the National Institute of Deafness reveal that nearly 30 million adults can benefit from wearing hearing aids. Despite this, just over 10% of this number were dispensed across the US in 2016. With two in three people reporting some degree of hearing loss, it shows that people are away from hearing problems but are yet to do anything about it. These statistics can also prove that age is the most significant factor in hearing loss, as 91% of adults who experience loss of hearing are aged 50 or older. 

This means that, out of everybody, your parent’s generation will require hearing aids. Doing so will ensure they experience little difference in their lifestyle. However, you need to make sure you help them select the right hearing aid for them, so here are a few tips on buying good, effective hearing aids for your parents. 

Durability

Considering that hearing aids use delicate components, durability is of a high priority. This means they can operate in a variety of environments, including both high and low temperatures. Besides this, the casing should also be sturdy, making it resistant to drops or knocks, which could be an issue when your parents first begin using the hearing aids and are still getting used to them. 

Durability will also make the devices easier to clean, as your parents won’t need to be as gentle with them, allowing them to remove wax more effectively or have specific components replaced if the need arises. 

Volume control 

Being able to adjust the volume on the hearing aids is also vital. This feature will ensure consistent comfort and provide maximum control over the noise level which your parents experience. A high-quality set of hearing aids will enable them to adjust the noise level in various environments, meaning that they can raise or lower this volume to suit the situation. 

This is exceptionally useful if your parents spend a lot of time out of the house and visit several unique locations, and need to adjust the volume depending on where they are. This will ensure they are comfortable and can hear as much as they desire. Some parents will prefer to hear everything, whereas others will only be focused on hearing those closest to them. 

Microphone technology 

The microphone technology of any hearing aid is sure to be a significant hit with mom or dad. The best design to choose for them is a hearing aid with adaptive directional microphones (ADM). While older or more basic hearing aid models use a single microphone required to locate and retrieve sound from all directions, a hearing aid with ADM technology uses two mics at once. For busy environments, such as restaurants, this is much more effective compared to the single-microphone alternative. Hearings with ADM technology will automatically target the dominant noise, usually speech, and amplify so that the wearer can hear with greater clarity. 

Ease of use 

When looking for hearing aids, you can ask your audiologist which hearing aids are easiest to use. Although some seniors can handle modern technology, others may become frustrated. Luckily, there is a range of useful and easy-to-use hearing aids available in various styles to suit your parents’ preferences and needs. 

Different types of hearing aids include ITE, BTE, and ITC. Your parents can select a style that they feel best suits them. They can also use hearing aids with programmable features, which will make them easier to use and choose various settings without the need to fiddle and adjust the settings themselves. These hearing aids are ideal for any parents who are not as competent with modern technology and make the device easy for them to use. 

Additional features 

Modern hearing aids come with a wide range of additional features that your parents might want to take advantage of. One of the most convenient features is Bluetooth connectivity, which will allow them to answer phone calls and direct the noise through their hearing aid, rather than hold the phone up to their ear.

Remote control, automatic synchronization, and rechargeable batteries are also useful features they might be interested in, so feel free to get their opinion and let them try out as many different styles as possible. 

Get in touch today 

If you believe your parents require hearing aids, encourage them to get in touch with Rametta Audiology & Hearing Center today to book in an appointment for a test and learn more about what we can offer. Contact one of our offices today for more information. For those in the Tarentum area, you can call (724) 409-4439. For those around Vandergrift, call (724) 567-3233.