1. Hearing aids are also gadgets
Nowadays, hearing aids can do more than just amplify sound. For example, there are hearing aids with a translation function! There are also hearing aids that can count your steps or, for example, notify you if you have fallen. Click here for these devices.
2. Hearing aids can be invisible!
The hearing aid manufacturer Phonak came up with a new product in 2018; The Phonak Lyric. This tiny hearing aid is placed a few millimetres from the eardrum by a Lyric specialist. Because the device sits so deep in the ear, it cannot be seen when you look inside the ear. Read more about the Phonak Lyric here. Or ask your hearing care professional about the possibilities when buying a hearing aid.
There are also other so-called in-the-ear hearing aids. However, the lyric is the smallest and thus the most invisible hearing solution. Click here for an overview of our in-the-ear hearing aids.
3. Hearing aids come in all shapes and sizes.
There are different types of hearing aids. How big your hearing aid will be depends on your hearing loss. The more severe the hearing loss; the more amplification you need; the larger the hearing aid.
For mild to moderate hearing losses, you often see the hearing care professional choose RITE or RIC instruments. RIC stands for Receiver-In-Canal and RITE for Speaker-In-The-Ear, both are the same. This means that the speaker sits in the ear canal and the hearing aid hangs behind the ear. Here, on the top right of the picture, you can see an example of a RIC hearing aid.
For severe to profound hearing loss, the hearing care professional may opt for BTE devices. These somewhat larger hearing aids often work with a tube and custom-made ear pieces. These hearing aids have more power to provide the required amplification. On the right you can see a BTE hearing aid in the lower photo.
4. Hearing aids train your hearing When talking about hearing aids, the saying “better too early than too late” is very applicable. Research shows that deafness reduces people’s participation in social life. And keeping your brain active, through social activities among other things, can reduce the risk of dementia. In other words, a hearing aid keeps your brain sharp and stimulated. So it is better to get a hearing aid too early than too late.
5. Hearing aids are not only for people with a hearing loss As already mentioned, modern hearing aids can do more than just amplify sound. All these functions make hearing aids attractive also for people without hearing loss. Think, for example, of people who like to use hands-free telephones or if you go on holiday and do not speak the local language. Nowadays, there are all kinds of hearing aids that can help with this. Take for example the Starkey Livio Edge AI 2400 ITC R. This device has many interesting features.
6. Two hearing aids are better than one This may sound obvious, but let us explain it to you. Some people find it more practical to buy just one hearing aid when there is a hearing loss on both ears. This is not always a good idea because one hearing aid can never do as much work as two hearing aids. Likewise, sound will always sound better and clearer when it comes from a stereo system versus sound from a mono system. As a result, less amplification has to be given in total to achieve the desired result. This makes for a more comfortable hearing experience.
Also, wearing only one hearing aid will unbalance your hearing and make directional hearing very difficult. So, unless there is a significant difference between your ears, choose two hearing aids.
7. The more advanced the hearing aid, the easier it is to use Many people think that an advanced hearing aid is more difficult to use, but the opposite is true! Because of all the technology in the best hearing aids, you have less to adjust yourself. These hearing aids have an automatic switch. This automatic switch switches to the right programme based on the situation you are in. This way, you do not have to switch yourself. Click here for a hearing aid with an automatic switch.
8. Hearing care professionals can tell you more than just what the best hearing aid is.
Hearing care professionals can of course tell you everything you need to know about hearing aids. But did you know that hearing care professionals are also trained to give advice on things like hearing protection? Hearing care professionals can also tell you all you need to know about peripherals. These are all devices that are related to hearing aids but are not hearing aids. Think for example of TV aids like the Sennheiser RS5000 for television or the Phonak Compilot II with which you can stream all the audio you want to your hearing aid via Bluetooth.
9. Hearing aids are now also rechargeable
You may already know this, but we would like to emphasise it again. The new generations of hearing aids also come in a rechargeable version. Put them in the charger at night and put them back in the ear in the morning; no more need to worry about batteries! Rechargeable devices last for about 24 hours. So you can enjoy your hearing aids all day long. Ask your hearing care professional about the possibilities when buying a hearing aid.
10. There are 1.5 million people with impaired hearing in the Netherlands and only one third wear hearing aids.
A study by TNS-Nipo established in 2000 that there are approximately 1.5 million Dutch people with a hearing loss. But not all people with hearing loss wear a hearing aid. We think that is a shame! Of course, not everyone with a hearing loss needs a hearing aid, but there are many people who would benefit from one. We want to reach these people, because everyone deserves to be able to participate in everyday life without being hindered by a hearing loss. Do you know someone or do you have doubts about your hearing? Contact us for a hearing test!