5 Must Have Hearing Aid Features

Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing aids come in a variety of different styles and sizes. There are pros and cons to each style. Each size and style comes with different features, but the level of complexity or flexibility of those features can vary. It is important to know what your priorities are for the kind of hearing improvements you want, so you can decide what type of hearing aid is best for you. Here are some popular, must-have features for hearing aids for you to consider. 

1. Rechargeable
One of the most in-demand features of a hearing aid is that it is rechargeable. There are a number of reasons for this popular feature. First, hearing aid batteries are notoriously tiny. It can make frequent battery changes difficult. A rechargeable hearing aid does not rely on batteries, so it is definitely more of an eco-friendly option. Most hold a charge during the day and then recharge conveniently at night while you sleep. The downside to this feature is that there is no backup power option. If you forget your charger, you may be out of luck. You also need to be near a power source, so if you are camping or otherwise remote, this may not be a feature you want. 

2. Noise Reduction

If you are struggling to hear conversation or other sounds, having a hearing aid that picks up all kinds of noises can make it difficult to decipher what it is you are trying to hear. Most hearing aids come with some level of noise cancellation. Some work like channels, where you have different noise canceling settings based on the type of environment you are in, such as restaurants or outside. While noise canceling features will not cancel out all noise, this can be an immensely helpful feature for adjusting your hearing in any environment.
Some hearing aids come with additional noise cancellation features that can help eliminate feedback, also known as the whistling sound you can hear when near other electronics. Wind reduction is another type of noise reduction that can be useful, especially when you are outside or if your hearing aid has directional microphones.

3. Directional Microphone

Directional microphones can be helpful in noisy environments to filter out sound coming from different directions. Many newer hearing aids have more than one microphone that can detect where sound is coming from. If you have a device that is also Bluetooth compatible, an app may be able to help you control which microphone is picking up the sound around you. Some directional microphones have an adaptive feature, which are designed to prioritize sounds coming from in front of you. Directional microphones can pick up wind more easily, so having wind/noise reduction as a dual feature might be useful for you.

4. Tech Compatibility
If you have a smartphone, many hearing aids now come with Bluetooth connectivity. Some hearing aid companies have developed an Android or Apple app to combine with your hearing aid so you can have more control over your hearing aid settings at the touch of a button. In more advanced hearing aids, you can even connect your Bluetooth hearing aid directly to your phone and take calls on your hearing aid.
If you have purchased a nano hearing aid, or over-the-counter hearing aid, there are some pros and cons. Nano hearing aids are direct-to-buyer hearing aids that are designed to help with mild to moderate hearing loss. Many nano hearing aids have Bluetooth connectivity built in, and an app where you can conduct your own hearing test, which will help the hearing aid adjust to your level of hearing loss. It is always best to consult with a healthcare professional regarding your hearing loss before purchasing.

5. Telecoil

A telecoil is a copper coiled wire inside a hearing aid designed to work with a loop system for the hearing impaired. The coil works as a receiver that picks up electromagnetic signals from a sound system meant to assist the hearing impaired. The telecoil works to help eliminate background noise or reverberation from a sound system or public address system, such as a subway, conference room, concert hall, or hearing aid compatible telephones. This can be a useful feature for deciphering speech and sounds that can often become garbled under normal circumstances.

Choosing the Hearing Aid That Is Right for You
There are many options for hearing aids on the market today. Your audiologist should be familiar with the different features and levels of complexity of each style of hearing aid to help you find the best choice to meet your needs and budget. Contact Elite Hearing Centers today for more information or to schedule an appointment.