Did you know that around 1 in 3 seniors aged between 65 and 74 years have hearing loss, but 80% of those who could benefit from a hearing aid don’t use one?
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There are multiple factors that cause seniors to hesitate to use hearing aids, such as appearance, comfort, stigma, cost, and difficulty adapting to new technology.
Luckily, with modern advancements and the emergence of new technologies, various types of hearing aids are being made to suit different needs. In this article, we will provide a detailed guide to choosing the right hearing aids for seniors according to their needs and comfort.
What Is a Hearing Aid and How Does It Work?
A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn around a person’s ear. It increases and clarifies the sound from the environment and sends it to the person’s ear to help them with hearing difficulty or loss.
A hearing aid consists of three main parts:
- Microphone
- Amplifier
- Speaker
The sound enters the hearing aid through a microphone. The microphone then converts the sound waves to electrical signals and transfers them to the amplifier. The amplifier clarifies and increases the power of the electrical signals and sends them to the ear through a speaker.
Who Needs a Hearing Aid? Signs and Symptoms
The following signs commonly indicate that you need a hearing checkup:
- You ask people to repeat what they said multiple times.
- You hear muffled sounds.
- You are constantly required to turn up the volume while using digital devices.
- You experience difficulty understanding conversations or listening to sounds.
You should consult an audiologist if you are experiencing the above symptoms and they are interfering with your daily life or quality of life. If you have other symptoms that accompany hearing difficulties — such as ringing in ears, trouble with balance, or sudden loss of hearing — you may also need to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to make sure you don’t have other more serious inner ear diseases.
4 Common Types of Hearing Aids for Seniors and Their Uses
There are four major types of hearing aids, including:
Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
Behind-the-ear is the most common and traditional type of hearing aid. It is used by people with a wide range of hearing difficulties, from mild to moderately severe hearing loss. This is also often the least expensive option.
A small tube is placed inside your ear canal, while the rest of the device sits on top of your ear and wraps around to rest behind it.
A behind-the-ear hearing aid is ideal for seniors who prefer a simple-to-operate, large, cost-effective, and traditional hearing aid style. It may feel a bit heavy behind the ear and may be more noticeable than other smaller models.
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Receiver-In-Canal (RIC)
Receiver-in-canal, also known as receiver-in-the-ear (RITE), is a type of hearing aid that is similar to but less visible than behind-the-ear hearing aid.
The main part of the device rests behind your ear, while a wire with an attached speaker extends over the top of your ear. The speaker (soft tip), fits inside your ear canal. It is suitable for people with mild to severe hearing loss. Depending on the brand, this type of hearing aid may also be cost-effective.
Completely-In-Canal (CIC)
Completely-in-canal, also known as in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid, is a small device that fits completely inside your ear canal, and no parts of the device are visible outside your ear.
They are suitable for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, due to their small size, they may need frequent battery changes and may be more difficult to handle.
In-The-Ear (ITE)
An in-the-ear hearing aid is an earbud or mushroom-sized device that fits completely inside your ear without any of its parts hanging outside the ear.
The part of the hearing aid holding the device’s electronic components is connected to a hard shell. It is an alternative to a completely-in-canal hearing aid, and it is larger, making it suitable for seniors who experience difficulty handling smaller devices. While this type of hearing aid may be more comfortable, it does require a higher level of cleaning and is more prone to needing repairs.
In-the-ear hearing aids are used by people with moderate to severe hearing loss.
How To Choose the Right Hearing Aids for Seniors
Here is a guide on how to choose the right hearing aids for seniors:
Professional Consultation
The first and most compulsory step before choosing a hearing aid is consulting a professional audiologist. They will perform a detailed checkup of your hearing and confirm whether you need a hearing aid.
Sometimes, hearing loss may occur due to wax buildup in your ears, and you may need ear irrigation instead of a hearing aid, a procedure that removes earwax and foreign particles from the ear.
The audiologist will suggest a hearing aid based on the severity of your hearing loss.
Moreover, make sure to ask the following questions from your audiologist:
- What type of hearing aid is best for me based on my needs?
- Are both of my ears affected?
- Will the hearing aid improve my hearing loss?
- How do I maintain my hearing aid?
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Comfort and Adjustability
The next step in choosing a hearing aid is to check your comfort and capabilities in handling the hearing aid.
Are you comfortable wearing an ear device that can be noticed by other people? Are you tech-savvy or capable of handling a small hearing aid device?
Based on your comfort, adjustability, and capabilities, you can decide on the type of hearing aid that may be most suitable.
Lifestyle
Another factor you should consider before purchasing a hearing aid is your lifestyle. For example, if you have a very active lifestyle, you should buy a hearing aid that is sweat and water-resistant. On the other hand, if you have a sedentary lifestyle, you may not need to consider such factors.
Maintenance
Hearing aids require regular maintenance, including cleaning, replacing batteries, and checking for necessary adjustments.
Hence, it is crucial to purchase a hearing aid that is easy to maintain and clean, features an automatic volume control, and has simple battery replacement or rechargeable options.
Trial Period
Before purchasing any hearing aid, request a trial period. You might have to pay a specific fee for the trial period, but it will allow you to determine if the hearing aid is suitable before finalizing the purchase.
Additionally, this will give you time to assess whether you can adapt to using the hearing aid. Trial periods are typically 30 to 60 days and may require completion of a hearing test.
About the Author
Reviewed by Dr. Kurt Hong
Dr. Kurt Hong, M.D., PhD., was raised in Los Angeles, CA. He received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School in 1999 and a Ph.D in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from UCLA in 2008. Dr. Hong is a professor who currently teaches at the USC School of Gerontology and the USC Keck School of Medicine, and has received multiple teaching awards. The most rewarding part of his job is providing meaningful care that has a direct impact on patients' lives. His areas of expertise include gerontology, clinical nutrition, geriatrics, integrative health, and precision medicine. Dr. Hong's current areas of research interest include studying nutrition and metabolic factors that contribute to age-related diseases and conditions. In his free time, Dr. Hong enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and cooking.
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