Best Hearing Aids

Finding the best hearing aid has little to do with the actual hearing aid itself. The most important factor in getting the most out of your investment has more to do with your choice of provider than with the hearing aid itself. Find an audiologist you trust and your investment will be worthwhile.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Finding the Best Hearing Aid

You want the best hearing aid available, and for good reason. The investment in hearing aids in both time and hard-earned money is significant. When you make your final decision on which hearing aid to purchase, you want it to be the best decision and one that is a solid investment for years to come. The truth is,there really is no single product that is best for everyone.

Finding the best product for your hearing loss, your lifestyle and your needs requires that you to take some time to consider several key factors before moving forward. Once you have done so, you will find it much easier to make a well-informed decision; one that benefits both your hearing loss and your pocket book.

The first key factor to consider has nothing at all to do with the hearing aids themselves but with the choice of provider. The person you choose to work with to select and program the hearing aids is almost more important than the choice of which hearing aid to purchase. You are going to be spending time with this person for years to come!

It is important that it is someone you feel comfortable around and someone you can communicate with. You will need to trust this professional to be able to discuss the difficulties you have been experiencing with your hearing loss and the communication difficulties it has created for you. Being open and frank about the impact your hearing loss has on your spouse, your family and friends, as well as your performance at work is critical to your success.

The second key factor is weighing price versus performance. The goal is to find a high-quality hearing aid that offers affordable pricing for the most effective solution. So, how do you find such a hearing aid? The answer again lies with the professional you choose to work with.

You can easily find information about manufacturers and the different models of hearing aids they offer by searching online. There are also many different consumer forums online offering personal opinions and experiences. But that’s actually one of the problems.

There is almost too MUCH information to be found online. Who do you trust? Which manufacturer is best? What technology is right for you? When you want to find the best hearing aid for you, your lifestyle and hearing needs, the best place to start is with an audiologist you trust.

Your audiologist’s job is to take what he or she knows about you from your hearing evaluation and from interviewing you about your needs and wants and then use that information to narrow down your choices from the thousands available to a much more manageable and understandable choice of several instruments to consider. The audiologist will then explain to you the pluses and minuses of each choice to help you reach your final decision.

For most of us, the cost of the hearing aids is a major concern. No one wants to spend more than they have to. You simply want the best possible solution for a reasonable price. Price itself can vary widely and depends on the features available in the hearing aid and the “package” the hearing aids come with.

If you are “shopping around,” make sure that you are comparing apples to apples when considering pricing. You may find that one clinic charges significantly more for the same product as a clinic you’ve recently visited. The cost difference could simply be the “package” the hearing aids come with. Questions you should be asking are:

• What’s included with my hearing aids?
• Are batteries provided?
• What is the warranty coverage?
• Is there a deductible if I lose a hearing aid?
• What services are included?

You can buy cheap, generic hearing aids, of course, but you won’t get the quality that you deserve and you might possibly receive less-than-effective care.You don’t have to pay a lot for quality, but you should never settle for a cheap model just because of the price.To make sure you get the best hearing aid for your hearing loss for the best price, work with someone you trust.

A well-educated and reputable audiologist may cost a little more, but in the end, you’ll find that you are satisfied with your purchase because ultimately, the most expensive hearing aids are the ones that sit in the side-table drawer, untouched.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

When To Replace a Hearing Aid

The average life expectancy of most hearing aids is five to seven years. You want to protect your investment and keep the hearing aids working as long as possible. The two most common reasons for replacing a hearing aid are because technology has improved and may offer a better solution to your hearing loss.

Or secondly, the hearing aids may be older and so, require regular maintenance or repair, which can be costly. If you’re wondering when to replace your hearing aids, a discussion with your audiologist is the best first step.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Styles Of Hearing Aids

Completely-in-the-canal style hearing aid (CIC): these are the smallest and most cosmetically discreet.

In-the-Canal style hearing aid (ITC): these are larger than the CIC devices

In-the-Ear style hearing aid (ITE): these are larger than the ITC style.

Conventional Behind-the-Ear style hearing aid (BTE): the processing components are housed in a case that fits behind the ear.

Open Fit and Receiver In the Canal Behind the Ear Style: These are similar to the conventional BTE but are much smaller, making them more discreet.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

KonoAudio Kidzsafe Earbuds and Headphones

Recommended by audiologists for children under the age of nine because it offers peace of mind to ensure adequate hearing protection.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Hearing Test

When you arrive for your exam, you will be greeted by the front office staff and asked to fill out several forms, including those that record your personal information, medical history and verify your insurance. You will also receive a copy of a Notice of Privacy as mandated by law.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Tinnitus

Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot?

If you answer yes to these questions, you may have tinnitus (tin-NY-tus). It is a symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss. Watch the video below to know more and what you can do to prevent or treat it.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

KonoAudio Kidzsafe Earbuds and Headphones Make Hearing Protection for Kids “Cool”

KonoAudio Kidzsafe earbuds and headphones offer peace of mind to parents who want to ensure adequate hearing protection for their children’s ears. Exposure to loud noises, generally anything greater than 85 decibels over an extended period of time, can lead to permanent hearing loss. But try explaining that to your child who seems to be eternally connected an iPod!

Compatible with all iPod, Zune and other MP3 devices, as well as portable CD and DVD players, stereos, video games, TVs and computers, KonoAudio Kidzsafe headphone and earbuds have a maximum volume of 85 decibels. No parental controls are needed and the volume level cannot be overridden. That means no matter how high the device is turned up, the volume level will always remain below 85 decibels.

Recommended by audiologists for children under the age of nine, Kidzsafe headphones and earbuds give up nothing when it comes to sound quality. They have the same high quality frequency and response that is found in full sized headphones.

And best of all, KonoAudio Kidzsafe earbuds and headphones are designed with children’s tastes in colors and style in mind…making it “cool” to wear hearing protection.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Hearing Aids–Is It Time To Replace Them?

 hearing aidsIf you’ve been wearing the same hearing aid for more than a few years, it may be time to discuss new technology with your hearing healthcare provider. Hearing aid technology improves rapidly.

In fact, most of the top manufacturers will release a significantly improved product over their previous generation product approximately every 18 months.

Most recently, technology improvements have generally focused on improved hearing in background noise, smaller packaging and wireless connectivity. There have also been some amazing advancements for those who experience ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, and for single sided deafness.

If you are unhappy with the sound quality of your hearing aids or if you feel they aren’t able to handle the listening situations you are most commonly exposed to, it’s possible that new technology advancements will be able to help.

The best thing to do is to talk with your audiologist about what’s new in hearing aids. They will be able to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

Another reason to replace your hearing aids is if they have started to need more repairs. Hearing aids have mechanical working parts.

These parts will stop working at some point and must be replaced in order to return the hearing aid back to working condition. With an older hearing aid, especially those over five years old, repairs become more frequent and this can become cost prohibitive.

In addition, older hearing aids may only receive a 90-day or 6-month warranty on a repair. If the hearing aid stops working again and the hearing aid is not covered under warranty, you’ll have to pay another repair charge.

In an older hearing aid, saving money you would have spent on a repair and investing it into a new, more advanced technology may be the better long-term solution.

If you are thinking that it might be time to replace your hearing aids, talk with your audiologist. It’s our pleasure to be able to work alongside you to decide when or if it’s time to look into new hearing aids.

We’ll discuss with you the pros and cons of replacement and the associated costs. And, in most cases, you can listen to some of the new technology while you’re in the office and decide what’s best for you.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094

Hearing Aid Batteries

Hearing aids have provided a great deal of relief for sufferers of hearing loss. They offer state of the art performance in ultra compact packages.

A critical element in providing this performance has been hearing aid batteries. The need for reliable power and long life in compact sizes has been what the hearing aid batteries provide.

1007 E Warner Rd #105 Tempe, AZ 85284-3242 (480) 719-3094