Hearing Aid Features

When you are shopping for hearing aids, the number of hearing aid types and styles can be overwhelming. To cut through the confusion, we’ve put together a guide to the most common hearing aid features. 

Multiple frequency channels

Different frequency channels allow the hearing aid to be programmed more accurately to meet your needs. By accentuating some channels and muting others, the sound you hear more closely represents the actual sounds in the environment. For example, vowels have a low-frequency sound and are easy to hear. Some consonants like “s” and “f” are high-frequency sounds, so they may be harder to hear. By differentiating frequencies, the hearing care provider can fine-tune the hearing aid. As your hearing changes, the channel programming can change too.

Multiple programs

Multiple program settings allow the hearing aid to be preprogrammed for a variety of settings. For example, you can have one setting for hearing in a noisy restaurant with lots of background noise and another setting for sitting in a quiet room. When your hearing environment changes, you just change the program accordingly.

Wax shields

Earwax is the bane of hearing aids. It can damage delicate electronics and clog microphones and speakers. Wax shields help prevent the build-up of earwax and make it easier to keep your hearing aids clean.

Telecoils

Telecoils are a small sensor that is placed in the hearing aid. They electronically pick up signals and transmit them directly to the hearing aid. Telecoils are used in public spaces, such as museums, performance halls, churches and even in public transportation. Because the signal is directly transmitted, background noise is reduced and the speaker’s voice is enhanced.

Directional microphone

Directional microphones handle sounds differently, depending on the location of the sound. Sounds in front of you are amplified more than the sounds behind you. This is because most conversation happens in a face-to-face setting. A directional microphone can help you better hear conversation. The most sophisticated microphones automatically switch as the source of sound switches.

Bluetooth capability

Many electronic devices are capable of streaming audio via Bluetooth technology. This includes TVs, DVD players, MP3 and CD players. If your hearing aid is Bluetooth enabled, the audio can be streamed directly to your hearing aid, making hearing much easier.

If you aren’t sure what features are most important to you, discuss your lifestyle with your hearing healthcare provider. The hearing specialist can help you decide what features provide the most benefit for the cost and what features you might not need.