Selecting appropriate hearing aid is a daunting task. Hearing is crucial and hearing aids are expensive so it is desirable to ensure that that you get the right one without much hassle. Almost all hearing aid machines contain similar types of devices to transmit sound from environment to your ear. There are different styles and sizes of hearing aid depending on how they are placed in ear. While some hearing aid fits partially in ear canal, some are very small and fit fully inside ear canal. Smaller hearing aid machines are more costly and have shorter battery life. While the bigger ones have features like amplification of sound, volume control and longer battery life, smaller ones are almost invisible and do not pick up wind noise. Severity of hearing loss plays a vital role in selecting the type of hearing aid suitable for you.

Here are some tips to help you while buying hearing aid:

Consult Audiologist: After your doctor has ruled out possibility of correction or cure of hearing loss by medicine or surgery and recommended use of hearing aid, you need to consult an audiologist. An audiologist is qualified to find an appropriate hearing aid that matches your need and style. This is done by taking an impression of ear canal for selecting the right type of aid. An audiologist also makes necessary correction of the hearing aid. It is desirable to consult audiologist that offers different brands of hearing aid. You may also ask your doctor to recommend a good audiologist.

Style: An audiologist may recommend the probable styles that suit you best. When looks are important for you, you may select the smaller one that matches with skin color and remain almost invisible. People with severe hearing disorder may need to have bigger hearing aid with facilities like powerful amplification.

Trial:It is advisable to buy hearing aid that comes with trial period. Hearing aid needs some time to adjust and you should be allowed a trial period, within which, you can return the machine if any problem arises. The offer from the seller should be in writing. Go through terms and conditions to make sure about the financial implications and cost of trial offered by the company.

Cost:Hearing aid may cost from few hundred dollars to several thousands dollars depending upon size, quality and sophistication. Discuss with your audiologist about the requirements and expectations to get an idea about the price range. There are many hearing aid available within reasonable price. Some insurance policies may provide part or full cost of the machine but this needs to be verified before buying.

Service: Check the warranty provided for the hearing aid and battery. You must know terms and conditions of the warranty and how and from where you can avail service after the warranty period is over. Check about the type of batteries used and where to get them and how long they usually last.

Operation and compatibility: It is essential to know about operation of the hearing aid. Most are user friendly but some are so small that you may find difficult to operate. Verify if your hearing aid is compatible when you use telephone amplifier or other such devices.

With the above mentioned tips choosing the perfect hearing aid is easy.