With more than 48 million Americans reporting some degree of hearing loss, you are not alone. Experiencing hearing loss can be heartbreaking because people feel that it puts a stop to their quality of life. However, this is not the case. The truth is it is all about choosing the best hearing aids for your lifestyle choice. Choosing hearing aids that are comfortable as well as great sounding means that you can wear them all of the time, so you can get the most benefit from your life. Your lifestyle has a direct impact on the sort of hearing aids you should choose. When it comes to choosing your hearing aids, an audiologist will ask about your lifestyle to get the right hearing aid for you.
The types of hearing aids
There is a wide variety of hearing aids. And you need to ask yourself some important questions in terms of your own lifestyle choices. For example, do you listen to music a lot? Do you spend more time at home? Where do you want to hear people better? All of these things, as well as the degree of hearing loss you are experiencing, in combination with your technological needs, will result in the type of hearing aid you need. The main styles are:
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid is one of the most common for everyday use.
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid sits in the bowl of the ear and is battery operated.
- In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid, a smaller version of the ITE model.
- Completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids are the smallest type and are great for those who use a wide variety of devices.
- Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, is smaller than BTE models and offers a wide variety of technical features.
The casual lifestyle
Many individuals have a relaxed approach to life. Some may be comfortable staying at home or having intimate dinners for catching up with friends. This casual lifestyle means that they need a hearing aid that adapts to various scenarios. Using hearing aids in the modern-day means that there’s a multitude of technology that is compatible with it. For example, for the individual that likes a quiet night in streaming television or music, a hearing aid that can adapt to audio is vital and a BTE device would be ideal.
The traveling lifestyle
If you are an individual that is on the go 24/7, you must guarantee your hearing aids are strong, sturdy and ready to go. Hearing aids that are portable, but also come with long-life batteries are essential. Hearing aids require charging overnight and using battery-operated hearing aids will help you, especially if you are traveling on an airplane and changing time zones. Times when you would normally be asleep and charging your hearing aids would require battery-operated hearing aids or ones with a portable recharging pack. An ITE style would be suitable for these scenarios.
The office lifestyle
If you work in an office, you may need your hearing aids to adapt to a wide variety of scenarios. If you work in a busy team you need hearing aids that will block out background noise to allow you to focus. Older hearing aids are directional, and therefore go to the loudest noise. But at the same time, you need something that gives you the ability to function during one-to-one meetings. In addition, you need hearing aids that can stream phone calls wirelessly. Due to the very nature of audio quality of work telephones as well as communication software, hearing aids that promote crystal-clear quality is essential for you. Here, a CIC hearing aid would be perfect.
The active lifestyle
If you are sporty or goes outdoors a lot, you need a strong device that will see you through all sorts of situations. Hearing aids that can withstand a lot of impact and contact is vital. If you play contact sports or you are out in all weathers, an ITE hearing aid is the best choice.
As you can see, there is a wide variety of hearing aids for your activity level and lifestyle. Being diagnosed with hearing loss doesn’t mean that you should feel you have to limit your life in any way. Working with an audiologist to diagnose your level of hearing loss is essential, but they can also recommend the best type of hearing aid for your lifestyle. Whether you are someone of a relaxed nature, you are active and don’t stop or you need a hearing aid that functions in a wide variety of environments, we can provide the best type for you. To book a hearing test and get fitted for the best hearing aid for your lifestyle, get in contact with Natural Hearing Centers today at (888) 221-9156 and we are ready to help you live your best life.
