Read This Before Selecting A Hearing Aid

"What brand of hearing aid should I buy?" is usually the first one of the first questions hearing aid candidates ask. The answer is any quality hearing aid is better than no hearing aid at all.

Perhaps as much 95 percent of the hearing improvement experienced by a hearing aid user is gained regardless of the brand chosen. People notice a clear improvement with virtually any hearing aid. Individual brands can make a difference, but the difference is subtle and may not be noticeable.

Manufacturers advertise extensively to make their brand name and product lines familiar, but hearing aids available from one manufacturer are not all that different from their competitors. There are similarities between the add-ons available with your hearing aid. For example, a single-channel programmable hearing aid from one manufacturer may perform very much like a similar aid from another manufacturer. A telecoil (a telecoil is a small device built into the hearing aid that makes it easier to hear on the phone) from two different companies may perform similarly. This is not to say, however, that there are no differences between brands. But you may find they are hardly noticeable.

A two-channel digital hearing aid made by one manufacturer may divide each channel into separate bands that allow added signal processing while one made by another manufacturer may not have this extra adjustability. One manufacturer may include two programmable memories on a digital aid while a competitor may include three on a similar product. Some of these differences are proprietary while others are due to philosophy or cost concerns.

The key to selecting hearing aids is not so much deciding between one brand or another as it is in selecting the most appropriate hearing aids from within a particular brand. It mainly involves finding a manufacturer that offers the combination of options that you want in a specific hearing aid. You may decide what circuitry and options you want in a hearing aid and select it from one manufacturer"s product line or, if necessary, go in search of another company that makes it. A very easy way is to have your hearing aid fitting specialist explain the features of the various manufactures.

Here"s a list of established manufacturers that sell a wide range of hearing aids that should help you begin your search: Beltone, Phonak , Starkey, GN ReSound, Siemans, Unitron, Miracle Ear, Sonic, Widex, Innovations, and Oticon.

Obviously there are many other companies offering hearing aid devices. Hearing loss can affect relationships, school performance, job productivity, and emotional well being. It is estimated that over 25 million adults and children in the United States alone have some degree of hearing loss. Choosing the most suitable hearing aids can make a big difference in lifestyle.

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