If you or a loved one has been struggling with hearing loss challenges, there are plenty of options for treating your ears—but sometimes, it feels confusing given how many options there are.
With dozens of hearing aid models, apps, and websites that all attempt to sell you on something different with varying price points, we can’t blame you for feeling overwhelmed.
Hearing loss affects 61 million people across America—you and millions of others face the same challenging question: “How should I treat my hearing loss?”
You’re in the right place. Here, we’ll explain the different options available for you to help you better understand what would work best for you, your hearing, and your life.
Things to Consider Before Choosing Your Treatment
Of course, just like how you pick the best shoes for running a marathon versus running the kids to school, there are a few things to consider before you decide on a path toward better hearing health.
We recommend thinking about your specific hearing diagnosis, lifestyle, budget, and whether you’d like to work with one professional in a local company versus a corporation with multiple different audiologists.
Different Options to Address a Hearing Challenge
From moderate to severe hearing loss, there are several options available to you to help regain control of your hearing.
Some of these options include:
For mild hearing loss, earphones and cell phone apps with general amplification services are available. Severe to profound hearing loss may require cochlear implants, which involve surgery. For now, we’ll discuss in more detail the more common options for hearing loss treatment.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
While over-the-counter hearing aids have become more accessible for people with hearing loss challenges, there has been some confusion about their abilities; these aren’t prescription hearing aids, but rather a ready-made solution to hearing challenges.
For a comparison, it’s like buying “readers” from the grocery store to help your eyesight. They’ll work perfectly fine in some situations, but they aren’t made to help your specific challenges.
We’re optimistic about the impact that over-the-counter hearing aids are having on normalizing hearing loss, but many people stop at these hearing aids without considering a tailor-made solution.
Online Hearing Aids With Audiological Remote Support
Some hearing aid manufacturers now offer services online; they’re reasonably priced, the process is smooth, and you don’t even have to leave your home to get hearing aids sent to your door. After taking a hearing test at home, you’ll send your results to a team of audiologists who’ll send hearing aids to you.
This is like many eyeglass manufacturers offering glasses online after you take a test to find your prescription. They’re made for your unique circumstances and are exceedingly convenient—but reviews are mixed on how well the hearing aids work.
Big-Box Retail Stores
Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club now offer their own audiology clinics in-store. With a hearing assessment and prescribed hearing aids at the ready, these are a step in the right direction compared to purchasing online, especially given their numerous benefits, like warranties and convenience.
However, due to their retail environment, receiving maintenance and follow-up care can prove difficult. If you lose or damage your devices, it could take weeks before you get an appointment for new ones; also, only members of Costco and Sam’s Club can actually enter the stores.
Audiology Clinics
This is often what’s considered the traditional approach, much like visiting an optometrist and getting your eyes tested for prescription glasses. Here, you’ll receive personalized care catering to your unique hearing needs, as well as more options for the level of technology that is right for you.
While you’ll need to attend multiple appointments, with extended warranties, repairs, earwax removal, and insurance coverage, the benefits that come with working with a local clinic are clear.
Expert Hearing Care With Utah Ear Institute
We’re here to help. Proper hearing care goes beyond getting you fitted with a hearing aid; with the help of comprehensive hearing assessments, earwax removal, hearing aid repair, and more, we’re ready to work alongside you for every step of your hearing health journey.
Please feel free to request a callback from us if you have questions or concerns, and a member of our team will reach out with more information to help alleviate any anxiety.
If you’d rather not wait, you can always call us at (801) 298-4327.
