What are the best hearing aids, to let you get on and enjoy your life? At the most basic level hearing aids are amplifiers of sound. So, on the face of it the best hearing aid in a technological sense will be the instrument which achieves the most lifelike and faithful reproduction for clarity of sound. This was the theory until the advent of the microchip in the 1970s when programmable sound filters became available for hearing devices, and increased clarity greatly.
At about that time it was found that beyond good reproduction of the original sound, filtered aids gave a much clearer sound when each note was tuned to amplify just as much, and for those musical notes, in which the listener's natural hearing was defective. The idea of hearing assistance had moved on, and the new goal was to achieve compensation for hearing loss and not simply "turn up the volume on all notes".
So, from then on in all the best hearing aids, excellent sound reproduction for clarity, became coupled with the ability to program the device with filters to suit each user.
Hearing aids are very personal devices nowadays, and are set up to the requirements of the individual. For this reason, there is no such thing as the best hearing aid for you, until after you have your hearing tested. Never purchase hearing aids without first having an audiogram. Just because someone you know likes a particular hearing aid, it may not be the best one for you. Ask your hearing healthcare professional which instruments and options are best for you.
For children, the audiologist will also help you choose the hearing aids that best suit your child's needs and preferences.
Even the best hearing aid is useless if it's not properly maintained. Treat your hearing instrument with care. Store it carefully, and clean it regularly in the manner recommended by the manufacturer.
Hearing aids come in a variety of styles. The very best hearing aids available are not excessively expensive, and are well within the reach of most people.
Hearing aid companies naturally continually try to advance their technologies to make their products the best hearing aids on the market.
The research carried out by each major manufacturer of hearing instruments continues to bring improvements year on year. Nowadays, the best hearing aids can filter out distracting background noise. Behind the Ear (BTE) hearing aids usually come equipped with telecoils - but not always.
Hearing aids mostly range in price from $800-$2500 each. Cost is relative to the perceived value you get from hearing aids. If an aid improves your enjoyment of friends and family it is priceless.
Will hearing aids restore my hearing to normal? Unfortunately, no, there is no perfect hearing aid, only a series of compromises. When you lose your natural hearing ability, your quality of life is not the same, even with the best hearing aids. Even with the best hearing aids, patients will still need to undergo follow-up services after getting their hearing aids.
Many modern hearing aids are so scientifically advanced that they are virtually feedback free. Gone are those terrible squealing feedback noises which could identify an aid wearer even across a noisy room!
When you ask to try out a hearing aid you will have at least a 30-day trial period on your hearing aids. Very rarely are hearing aids optimally adjusted the first fitting, or the second, or even the third. Be patient with your audiologist during this period. They will continue to make adjustments for you until you are satisfied.
Unfortunately, we cannot stress too much that even the best hearing aids do not fully restore the hearing that has been lost; they just make the hearing that one has, more useful. Distance from the sound source, background noise and reverberation levels all make communication difficult - even with the best hearing aids.
But, hearing aids and other assistive listening devices can be very helpful, and you should try the even best, for a few days before buying.
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