A hearing healthcare professional is the person you need to speak to when you need to buy hearing aids. They are experienced with a range of hearing aids needed for a plethora of patients, and this makes them qualified to work alongside you to pick out your hearing aid devices no matter what you need. If you have an appointment with your hearing professional, it’s useful to know how they approach your hearing aid needs. 

Your preferred style 

Everyone has a preferred hearing aid style, even if they don’t know it yet. If you are unfamiliar with hearing aids, you need to know the different styles available. 

The three prominent hearing aid styles are: 

  • In the canal (ITC) 
  • In the ear (ITE)
  • Behind the ear (BTE)

Choosing the best style for you will have an impact on your everyday life as well as overall happiness and satisfaction. You and your hearing healthcare professional can work together to identify which style you prefer and then work out whether it is right for you. They can tell you about useful features for your specific device to help you get the most from it. 

Your lifestyle 

Hearing loss can affect everybody, regardless of their lifestyle. But it is because of these different lifestyles that there is no one-size-fits-all device. Your hearing health provider will ask you a series of questions to determine your lifestyle, and this will help them identify the most appropriate hearing aid device for you. 

If you work outside, they will recommend a hearing aid that reduces background noise to make it easier to hear everything close to you. Conversely, if you work in an office, they will identify hearing aid styles that can link up with PA systems and connect to phones to make calls and meetings easier to follow. 

Your hearing aid needs 

All hearing aids will improve your hearing, but everyone will have specific hearing aid needs. Your hearing care provider will ask you questions to find out the reason for your hearing loss, and this will enable them to pick the best hearing aid for you. They may also carry out hearing aid tests to get a clear picture of your level of hearing loss. The more information they have, the more effectively they will be able to recommend suitable hearing devices. 

Your hearing aid experience 

If you have worn hearing aids before, you already know what you need and what you prefer. However, your hearing professional will still want to go over several factors to help decide on the best upgrade or improvement. You can share any issues you have had with previous hearing aid styles, and this will allow them to look at alternatives for you.

In some cases, this may involve a simple upgrade to a hearing aid with better features. In other cases, they may need to reevaluate your hearing aid needs and start all over. 

Your hearing professional is dedicated to helping you find the best hearing aid to suit your hearing needs, your preferences and your lifestyle. However, if you have any issues with your selected hearing aid, don’t be afraid to get in touch with them to look at alternative devices to help you find the perfect model for you.