The Top Hearing Aid Features to Consider

Hearing aids can include a range of features. Some features are standard and you will find them in all or most hearing aid models. Other features are more optional extras, which you might or might not choose to have. Some might be available in only some types of hearing aid style, while others can be selected for all hearing aids. When you're choosing your hearing aids, you need to think carefully about which features you would like. Your audiologist can help you to understand your options and choose the best features for your needs. Here are some of the top features to consider.

Directional microphones

Directional microphones are now found in most hearing aids, although not all of them have them. Some hearing aids have one directional microphone, while others can have several of them. Directional microphones are excellent if you want to make it easier to hear in noisy environments. They particularly good at helping you to understand speech in noise. They help by amplifying sound that's coming from one direction while quieting sound coming from other directions.

Multiple settings

Hearing aids that offer the ability to set several programs are great if you want to spend less time adjusting your settings. With several preset programs saved to your hearing aids, you can choose the program that works best for the environment that you're in or the activity that you're doing. Some clever hearing aids can even detect what type of environment you're currently in and automatically switch the program. This means it's even less effort to change settings to suit where you are.

Telecoil

Most hearing aids will have a telecoil, although some might be too small to have one. A telecoil allows you to directly tune into a specific frequency so that you can receive sound without feedback or background noise. Telecoil loops can be found in public places such as stores, banks, theaters and churches. You can also use a telecoil to hear better when you're speaking to someone on the phone.

Bluetooth

Another way to directly tune into something you want to hear is to use Bluetooth. You likely already have several devices that use Bluetooth technology, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet or speakers. When your hearing aids have Bluetooth, you can use them to listen to music, watch TV and talk on the phone with clearer sound. Bluetooth is a great feature to use for multimedia at home and in other places too.

Tinnitus masking

If you have tinnitus as well as hearing loss, you might want to consider hearing aids that provide tinnitus suppression. This feature plays sound into your ears to help disguise or suppress the tinnitus sounds that you hear. It can be a good way to deal with tinnitus during the day and can form part of a more comprehensive tinnitus therapy program.

You can choose from a wide range of hearing aid features. Your audiologist will provide advice to help you select the right ones.