“Which hearing aids work the best?”
My grandmother can hardly hear anything, and we FINALLY convinced her to get a hearing aid. Are there certain types of hearing aids that we should look at? What works the best?
5 Answers
I understand how important it is to find the right hearing aid for your grandmother. Choosing the best hearing aid depends on several factors, including her level of hearing loss, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Here are some general guidelines to help you make an informed decision:
Types of Hearing Aids
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Suitable for most types of hearing loss, easy to handle, and can accommodate larger batteries for longer battery life.
Cons: More visible than other types.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Similar to BTE but smaller and less visible. Provides natural sound quality and is suitable for a wide range of hearing losses.
Cons: The receiver can be susceptible to moisture and earwax.
In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Custom-made to fit the ear, easier to insert and remove, and less visible than BTEs.
Cons: Smaller size can limit battery life and additional features. Not suitable for severe hearing loss.
In-the-Canal (ITC) and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Very discreet and almost invisible. Custom-fitted to the ear canal.
Cons: Smaller devices mean shorter battery life and fewer features. Not suitable for severe hearing loss.
Key Features to Consider
Sound Quality: Look for hearing aids with advanced signal processing for clearer sound and noise reduction.
Battery Life: Consider rechargeable options for convenience.
Connectivity: Many modern hearing aids can connect to smartphones, TVs, and other devices via Bluetooth.
Comfort and Fit: Custom-fit hearing aids are typically more comfortable and provide better sound quality.
Ease of Use: Choose hearing aids that are easy for your grandmother to handle and adjust.
Durability: Ensure the hearing aids are moisture and dust-resistant, especially if your grandmother is active.
Recommendations
For your grandmother, I would recommend starting with a comprehensive hearing evaluation by a qualified audiologist. Based on the results, a hearing aid can be tailored to her specific needs. Given her age and the fact that she’s new to hearing aids, I often find that Behind-the-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids work well due to their ease of handling, versatility, and comfort.
Brands like Phonak, Oticon, and Widex offer excellent options with a variety of features to enhance hearing in different environments. Your audiologist can help you choose the best model and ensure proper fitting and adjustment.
Remember, getting used to hearing aids can take some time, so encourage your grandmother to be patient and consistent in wearing them. Regular follow-up visits with the audiologist are crucial to fine-tuning the devices for optimal performance.
Types of Hearing Aids
Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Suitable for most types of hearing loss, easy to handle, and can accommodate larger batteries for longer battery life.
Cons: More visible than other types.
Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Similar to BTE but smaller and less visible. Provides natural sound quality and is suitable for a wide range of hearing losses.
Cons: The receiver can be susceptible to moisture and earwax.
In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Custom-made to fit the ear, easier to insert and remove, and less visible than BTEs.
Cons: Smaller size can limit battery life and additional features. Not suitable for severe hearing loss.
In-the-Canal (ITC) and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids:
Pros: Very discreet and almost invisible. Custom-fitted to the ear canal.
Cons: Smaller devices mean shorter battery life and fewer features. Not suitable for severe hearing loss.
Key Features to Consider
Sound Quality: Look for hearing aids with advanced signal processing for clearer sound and noise reduction.
Battery Life: Consider rechargeable options for convenience.
Connectivity: Many modern hearing aids can connect to smartphones, TVs, and other devices via Bluetooth.
Comfort and Fit: Custom-fit hearing aids are typically more comfortable and provide better sound quality.
Ease of Use: Choose hearing aids that are easy for your grandmother to handle and adjust.
Durability: Ensure the hearing aids are moisture and dust-resistant, especially if your grandmother is active.
Recommendations
For your grandmother, I would recommend starting with a comprehensive hearing evaluation by a qualified audiologist. Based on the results, a hearing aid can be tailored to her specific needs. Given her age and the fact that she’s new to hearing aids, I often find that Behind-the-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids work well due to their ease of handling, versatility, and comfort.
Brands like Phonak, Oticon, and Widex offer excellent options with a variety of features to enhance hearing in different environments. Your audiologist can help you choose the best model and ensure proper fitting and adjustment.
Remember, getting used to hearing aids can take some time, so encourage your grandmother to be patient and consistent in wearing them. Regular follow-up visits with the audiologist are crucial to fine-tuning the devices for optimal performance.
My picks for the best performance are Resound, Starkey and Phonak, keep in mind the higher the technology the better the person will hear, especially in background noise situations. Tri County Hearing & Speech Center Complete Audiological Testing & Hearing Aid Services Natalie Fernandez-Roque, Au D dr.nfr@tricountyhearing.com 561-320-9152
The best hearing aid is the one that is well fit and she will wear. I encourage you to see an audiologist who offers multiple manufacturers to find a system that sounds good to her and then utilizes real ear measures get the best fit. Angela R. Sieh Ceretto, M.A., CCC-A, FAAA Audiologist Pinnacle Audiology, LLC 6809 S. Minnesota Ave., Suite 101 605-306-4481
This is surely a loaded question and one I cannot answer without knowing more about her situation. There are many types, styles, and technology levels available today. The very most important thing I would suggest is that she sees an audiologist, not a hearing aid specialist. Audiologists have doctoral degrees and will complete a comprehensive audiological evaluation (NOT a free screening!) and spend time with your grandmother to identify what her needs are. The hearing aid that is chosen should be based on a number of factors including the level of her hearing loss, dexterity concerns, activity level, and communication needs. Please take the time to research a great audiologist in your area and start there!!
Almost all hearing aid brands have gotten very easy to clean and to change their batteries. They’re all very comparable in functionality. Although, Oticon, Phonak, and Widex are widely reported as being the most comfortable and well-fitting brands. Your Audiologist should be able to make more elaborate recommendations based on the needs of your grandmother.
