With a variety of feature-loaded hearing aids in the market, choosing the best one has undoubtedly become difficult. But before choosing the right product, knowing the nature of hearing loss and its severity may be helpful. One can also take help from his or her audiologist or hearing aid specialist to guide them through all the critical considerations. So, here are some essential features to look for when shopping for a hearing aid.

Style

Hearing aid comes in many different styles, such as behind-the-ear, in-the-canal, in-the-ear, and others. When buying a particular type, one must consider the ease-of-use, functionality, and budget. It’s also imperative that one selects a hearing aid that fits appropriately. It’s good to speak with a hearing professional, as they can help further understand what more one needs to consider when selecting a specific aid.

Directional microphones

This is a significant feature to look for in a hearing aid, as it allows to converse correctly in noisy surroundings. Directional microphones amplify people’s voices and diminish the noise from the rear or sides. They work the best when the person with a hearing aid is closer to the sound source. Generally, hearing aids with the mentioned feature come with the ability to switch between directional and omnidirectional settings automatically, depending on the surrounding. Some premium aids can even focus on sound signals from behind or side of the wearer.

Programmability

The main difference between a cheap hearing amplifier and a high-end hearing aid is programmability. One must select a hearing aid that can amplify sound based on the type of hearing loss. If one buys a hearing aid that’s not programmed to do so, any sound that the device captures will be amplified equally, which can create a lot of disturbance in hearing what’s necessary. One can seek guidance from a hearing specialist about programming capabilities to make the best use of aid in different environments like restaurants or homes.

Telecoil

A telecoil is a small sensor or copper wire located inside the hearing aid. Essentially, it helps to hear the other person’s voice clearly when speaking via a telecoil-compatible telephone. It virtually eliminates the background noise and reverberations and amplifies the voice of the person on the phone. A telecoil also captures signals from public induction loop systems, such as those found in churches, subway trains, movie theaters, allowing one to hear better.

Feedback suppression

The effectiveness of this feature depends on the quality of the aid one is buying. It essentially helps filter out high-pitched whistling sounds and is useful for minimizing feedback if the assistance is mistakenly dislodged from one’s ear a little. One can also reduce the feedback effect by choosing the right fit.

Others

Modern hearing aids are equipped with many great features that one may select as per his or her preference, including low-battery indicator alarm, wireless connectivity between hearing aids, automatic volume control, and a lot more.