When you have hearing loss, it’s a good idea to speak to a professional audiologist to discover more about what can be done. Hearing loss is not an untreatable condition – although this will depend on how severe it is – and many times, the right hearing aid can make all the difference. For some, once they have their new hearing aids, it’s as though they haven’t any hearing loss at all.
What does a hearing aid do?
Your hearing aids are meant to allow you to hear better in any situation you happen to be in, and today’s modern hearing aids adjust quickly and effortlessly if the level of noise around you changes. As an example, if you were to leave your quiet home and walk along the road and then enter a store full of people, each different area would allow your hearing aids to adjust. This means that from the quiet of your home to the general hubbub of the store, you would be able to hear everything in complete comfort.
And this is another important point to note about hearing aids. They allow you to hear sounds at the volume they are meant to be heard. So, a loud road would be much noisier than someone typing on a keyboard at the other end of the room. In essence, the hearing aid should react in the same way your ear and brain would if you had perfect hearing.
More control
Despite how hearing aids work, some people will always require more control over what they can hear and the volume at which they can hear it. This is only natural, and it’s only fair. This is why it’s worth discussing your options with your audiologist. They will be able not only to help you choose the right hearing aids initially but to understand how they work and how, even though they should work automatically, you can have control over them as well.
Some hearing aids allow you to pre-set volume levels to your liking and then recall those volumes when you are in the relevant places and situations. Others will allow you to change the volume or settings manually. What you can do will depend on your level of comfort with technology, but here are some of the most common ways to control your hearing aids.
Onboarding the hearing aid
No matter what kind of hearing aid you are using or what has been recommended to you by your audiologist, there will be some form of control on the outside of your hearing aid. This might be in the form of buttons; it could be a switch, it might even be a wheel for volume. No matter what it is, you must understand how each control works.
Your audiologist should go through these controls with you when they fit you for your hearing aid, but whatever they are, they will be controlled by hand.
Mobile apps
Modern hearing aid technology has changed the way almost everything is done, and hearing aids are no exception. It is now possible to download an app to your mobile device and use this to control your hearing aid. The technology used in this situation is Bluetooth, which means your smartphone will need to be linked to your hearing aid. It also means, of course, that the hearing aid has to have Bluetooth to begin with. You won’t be able to download an app to use on your hearing aid if the hearing device you use is not set up for it.
The benefit of using smartphone technology and Bluetooth to control your hearing aid is that you never actually need to touch them. No one needs to ever know that you’re making adjustments, plus this will ensure that the device stays safer – the less you handle it, the more protected it will be.
Wireless accessories
Your device will need to be compatible with this kind of technology. If this is something you are interested in, it’s a good idea to speak to your audiologist when suggesting various hearing aids for you. If you prefer any particular type of control, they will be able to narrow their recommendations down to those that offer you just that, assuming there is something suitable for your level of hearing loss.
Get the advice you need today
There are so many options for hearing aid control and trying to determine which will be best for you can be a challenge. This is why it’s best to seek guidance from the experts at Allison Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, PC Phone our team today at 713-827-1767 (Houston). Contact us today for the advice you’re looking for.
