There is no “best” hearing aid. There is only the “right one” for you.
Selection of the “right” hearing aid will depend on your degree of hearing loss, your listening needs and expectations, your physical dexterity, your finances and the professional hearing care you receive.
First, see an audiologist. Most hearing aids are dispensed and fitted by audiologists using the most advanced computerized procedures and equipment to individualize hearing aid fittings. Qualifications to become an audiologist include a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited university, state licensure, completion of a full-time internship and passing a demanding competency examination.
Your audiologist will fully test and evaluate your hearing loss before you can find the hearing aid that is most appropriate for you. During this step, tell your audiologist what problems you are experiencing and what results you hope the hearing aids will provide. In addition to reviewing your tests with you, the audiologist will educate you about what you can and cannot realistically expect from hearing aids. Service is what you’re paying for and the proper fit of a hearing aid takes a lot of counseling and adjustments.
Hearing aids vary in cost from $1,200 to $3,500 each, depending on the technology and the size. All hearing aids look the same from the outside but the price will depend on how much the hearing aid helps in noisy environments and how much adjustability it has. When companies advertise lowest prices or we will beat competitor’s prices beware! Unless you compare exact brand and model you don’t know what you are really getting so you really can’t compare price until you have that information. Also look for amount of years in practice and expertise in programming hearing aids. That could save you hundreds of dollars if you go to the right person, with the most experience and who has been in business the longest. The care and service you get with hearing aids is the most important thing to consider when buying the right aid for you.
Finally, your audiologist will provide follow-up care, education, training, hearing aid accessories and a trial period so that you can achieve the best possible results from your hearing aids.
For more information about available hearing aid technologies, contact Nola Aronson, M.A., Ginny Veloz Au.D and Karla Castro at Advanced Audiology 661-253-EARS (3277).