Health Guide

The technology to purchase hearing aids online has revolutionized the digital hearing aid industry. In the past, those who were hard of hearing sought care through a system that was centered on the provider. The patient made an appointment, traveled to the clinician's office, sat through a battery of hearing tests, spent hours being fitted for an appropriately-sized hearing aid, only to leave empty-handed because the hearing device still needed to be manufactured and shipped. When the hearing aid finally did arrive, if it was not adjusted properly, the patient was back to square one.

By Delain Wright - CEO of America Hears

Currently, there is a trend in the hearing aid industry toward smaller and more discreet hearing aids, including the recent development of open fit hearing aids (also known as open ear hearing aids). Open fit hearing aids have one major limitation, however; they are not appropriate for many people with a more severe hearing loss and are best used by those with high frequency hearing loss and normal low frequency hearing.

Buying hearing aids online can be a great way to get a quality product at a reasonable price while also saving you a significant amount of time. While it may at first seem unusual to buy your hearing aid online, you will quickly find that it isn’t that much different from going into a physical store – and often it can be much easier.

Before You Begin Researching Your Hearing Aid Online

When you find that you need a hearing aid, you may be aware that you currently have two categories from which to choose: standard hearing aids (in-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids) or open fit hearing aids (also known as open ear hearing aids). Each of these types of hearing aids has both pros and cons, but, more importantly, each type is most beneficial for a particular type of hearing loss. It is important to research both in order to determine which will work for you.

In-the-Ear and Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids: An Overview

The purchase of a new hearing aid that can help with hearing conversation, the television, or the telephone is only the beginning of the process of aural rehabilitation. By the time you bring your new hearing aid home, you should have developed an understanding of what it can do to improve your particular hearing problems, based on your hearing tests and your discussions with your doctor and/or your hearing aid dispenser. And, as you now know, your hearing aid is only part of the long-term solution.

In preparation for meeting with a hearing aid dispenser to buy hearing aids, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that you get the most out of the visit. Most importantly, you should not only have had a complete hearing test administered but you should also have had your test results explained to you in detail. Make sure you have the results handy so you can bring them to discuss with the hearing aid dispenser.

If you are experiencing hearing loss, before you have a hearing test administered, it is important that you first visit your physician or an ENT to find out if there is a medical cause. The doctor will be able to assess your situation and may be able to treat your underlying issues, such as an ear infection, a blockage, or even a hole in your eardrum. Once all of your medical issues have been resolved and your doctor determines that you could potentially benefit from a hearing aid, he or she will then likely recommend that you have a complete round of hearing tests administered.

The results from your latest hearing test may have shown that you were experiencing some form of hearing loss, which, in general, happens gradually as you age. The medical term for hearing loss related to aging is “presbyacusis,” and both exposure to loud noises (tools, machinery, or guns, for example) and genetics can contribute to certain types of hearing problems. Less commonly in people over 55, hearing loss can be caused by infections or inner ear injury.

It is sometimes hard to accept that one is facing hearing loss and may need a digital hearing aid or other hearing devices to improve one's quality of life. Jay Gerber, former vice president of the National Football League Film Corporation and current manager of the NFL Frequency Organization Group, had that experience. He states, "At 40 years of age, I could not accept the idea that I was afflicted with a form of progressive hearing loss.