Comprehensive Comparison of Different Types of Hearing Aids

Do you have the feeling that it’s becoming harder and harder to hear conversations or the TV at home? Or has anyone ever suggested you should get your hearing checked? These might be signs of a potential hearing difficulty.

To find out whether or not you might be affected by hearing loss, you can take a free online hearing test to obtain an initial assessment of your hearing. We recommend you then have a no-obligation hearing test with your audiologist. In general, you don’t even need to book an appointment, and you’ll soon have an accurate assessment of how well you are hearing.

If you are affected by hearing loss, our audiologists will advise you to visit a reliable ear nose and throat doctor (ENT), if necessary.

You will need a prescription from them in order to initiate the process of having your hearing aid paid for by your health insurance or social insurance company. The specialist will also do a hearing test and identify the medical reason for your hearing loss. The specialist will evaluate whether your hearing difficulty is of organic origin, and perform various tests such as a sound level test or an audiogram. If you do not have an ENT doctor, you can also contact our audiologists.

Which hearing aid will suit you best depends on a number of factors. Firstly, the nature and severity of your hearing loss, and secondly your personal lifestyle and the type of work you do: If you interact regularly with other people or need to make a lot of phone calls, you will need one kind of hearing aid, whereas if you are in the car a lot, have a very active social life, or spend most of your time at home, you will need different devices. These factors can be used to narrow down the number of possible models.

The individual’s level of ease with technology, the contribution being made by the health insurance company, and of course individual wearing comfort, all play a major role in the purchase of a hearing aid.

There are also major differences between behind-the-ear hearing aids and in-the-ear hearing aids. Of course, the price of the hearing aid depends on its design and functions. Most BTE hearing aids are cheaper than ITE devices. 

Lower-cost hearing aids and premium models differ primarily in terms of the additional functions they offer. Modern hearing aids can be paired directly with smartphones, TVs, and audio equipment, for example. The choice of power supply should also be taken into consideration. Some models are fitted with hearing aid batteries that need to be replaced, while others have rechargeable batteries.

To ensure speech comprehension in everyday situations, the perfect settings for the hearing aid must first be identified. Our experienced audiologists can help you with this. They will work with you to identify the ideal hearing aid for your needs, and adjust it to your hearing curve. The device will be adjusted to your individual needs in just a few appointments using a hearing aid test. The settings will be optimized until you are completely happy with them, and, most importantly, until you have become used to having your hearing back.

The brain literally has to get used to „hearing again“, and the process is not as quick as putting on glasses, for example. The fitting of your hearing aid and training to use the technology require a little patience. But it's certainly worth it. A functioning and perfectly adjusted hearing aid can bring back quality of life through good hearing. Our experienced audiologists will be happy to help you choose and adjust your hearing aid.