Are you someone that is looking for a high-quality and effective hearing aid your yourself or your parents?
Do you know what are some things that you need to consider when buying a hearing aid for your parents or other seniors?
Have you looked at rechargeable hearing aids and the benefits they come with including longer life and easy charging?
As we get advanced in years, our sensory organs start experiencing a dip in performance levels. Our eyesight is not the same as it was, and neither is our sense of smell, taste, or hearing. Almost all of us know about an elder person in the family that has started to experience some hearing issues.
While this might be difficult for you to gauge and understand, for the person this can be a serious problem. They might feel disappointed, suffer from low self-respect, and be anguished about what and why is this happening to them.
Why People Suffer from Hearing Loss: The Major Reasons
In this section, we will outline some of the major reasons why people suffer from hearing loss and might require rechargeable hearing aids–
- The first reason and most common one is because of age. As we have already mentioned, our internal organs start dipping in performance levels with age.
- Studies have shown that sound pollution can also be a major reason for experiencing hearing loss. This is especially true of younger individuals that are suffering from this.
- Ear diseases and infections have also been found to be a significant factor that leads to hearing loss. Otosclerosis is a relatively well-known infection that has been reported.
- Many ENTS have pointed to fluid build-up and ear wax impaction as issues that can create hearing loss over a sustained period. This is why it is important to address them.
- If you have been in an accident or suffered from physical injury, you might experience that the same has tampered with your hearing.
List of 5 Things to Consider when getting Hearing Aids for Seniors
1. The Life of The Battery
Looking at the battery life is very important when it comes to hearing aids. This is one major reason why most people are now opting for rechargeable hearing aids. They fix like headphones in a charging stand that allows them to be fully charged within minutes. The speed of charging and the extended life makes for a great product that is useful and effective.
The Quality of the Product and Manufacturer
Going after the cheapest option in the market is never a good idea. This is because good hearing aids cost a little bit of money. What you do get in return is a great and sturdy product that functions well, is made of good components, and offers after-sales service. This ensures peace of mind when it comes to the product lasting for over five to eight years at one go.
3. The Type of Hearing Aid
As you might already be familiar with. There are multiple types of hearing aids that you can go for. The following are some of the most popular ones-
- BTE or Behind the Ear Hearing Aids
- ITE or In the Ear Hearing Aids
- CIC or Completely in Canal Hearing Aids
- IIC or Invisible in the Canal Hearing Aids
All of them come with their pros and cons, including features and prices. You should look at all the options and go for the ones that you feel are best suited for your requirement.
4. The Size and Strength of the Microphone
Most experts state that it is the microphone that is by far the most critical component of a hearing aid. The size and type of microphone matters because it functions in a way that optimizes or amplifies the airwaves and transmits the same into the ears of the user. Good microphones in hearing aids can be expensive, but they allow for great performance.
5. The Lifespan or Expectancy of the Hearing Aid
Last, but not least by any stretch of the imagination is the life span that the hearing aid device offers. Usually, the best hearing aids if maintained in the best fashion last between five to eight years. Average quality ones will be able to give you service for a little over three years. The cheapest ones might last a year or even lower than that in many cases.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a hearing aid for a senior is not easy. There are multiple things that you need to consider. By following all the points in the article, you will be able to arrive at the right decision. If you wish to know more, drop your questions in the comments below. We will try to answer as many of them as possible.