Due to the fact that more and more various goods, including medical supplies, are sold over the Internet, many are interested in the question of how to choose a hearing aid without a doctor. We will omit here the reasons why this is not recommended. Although the main one is that such devices require taking into account all the individual characteristics of the patient, and the wrong choice of device can quickly impair hearing. If it is not possible to consult a qualified specialist, you can try to decide on the model yourself.
Main criteria
Before deciding which hearing aid is best for you, you need to go through a comprehensive medical diagnosis. It will allow you to determine:
- the causes of hearing loss;
- the degree of hearing loss;
- the range in which the patient is able to perceive sound;
- bone conduction;
- the presence or absence of contraindications to hearing aids.
It is important to take into account the health status, age and lifestyle of the patient. So, with an active lifestyle, pocket and behind-the-ear devices will be inconvenient, but for people with a measured rhythm of life, they will suit.
Digital programmable hearing aids deliver incomparably higher sound quality than manual analog hearing aids. But at the same time, they must be configured using specialized equipment, which means that you will have to visit the clinic periodically. It will be difficult for people with impaired motor functions and visually impaired people to do it on their own.
The most versatile are BTE models. Their choice is huge, and the range of possibilities is very wide. These are the best hearing aids for children and those with severe hearing loss. Their output is much higher than in-the-ear, they are more adjustable and produce cleaner, better sound. Such devices are produced by all well-known manufacturers, so it is easy to buy a high quality device.
Only a physician can select an ITE. And in most cases, they are made according to an individual order, according to a previously made impression of the ear canal. Only an experienced specialist knows how to choose the right microphone power and place it in a miniature device so that there is no “feedback” effect.
Important! An incorrectly selected, fitted and / or tuned hearing aid can cause rapid hearing impairment.
Features of selection and operation
If you do decide to buy the device yourself, here are some tips on how to choose a hearing aid without a doctor:
- It is best to do this on the websites of manufacturers or their official representatives. Firstly, there is usually the opportunity to get online advice and qualified help in choosing. Secondly, a guarantee and addresses of service centers are provided, which you can contact in case of breakdown. And, finally, you clearly understand what and from whom you buy and can demand compliance with consumer rights.
- Remember that a modern hearing aid is a sophisticated and high-tech acoustic device. Therefore, the price for it cannot be low. Before finally choosing a hearing aid, check the prices for similar models and buy the middle one. Cheap devices are most often a conventional microphone with a primitive amplifier that does not filter sound and spoils the hearing. In addition, they break down quickly and, in the end, the costs will be higher than buying a quality product.
- Be sure to take into account the conditions in which the device will be used. Not all models can handle harsh weather conditions, temperature fluctuations, shock and vibration equally well. If you move a lot, are often in transport, do active sports, live in too cold or hot climates - check with the manufacturer or seller how this model is adapted for such conditions.
- A quality hearing aid will last for at least several years. Therefore, like any other technical product, it must undergo periodic inspection, cleaning and adjustment. Simple models allow you to do this manually yourself. More complex ones require a professional approach and the use of specialized software. Before choosing a hearing aid for a specific model, read the instructions for use or ask your dealer how it is prevented.
- Ask your doctor during the diagnosis how many hearing aids you need to install. If hearing loss is diagnosed in both ears, you may need to buy two devices to get the most realistic sound possible. But not everyone can do it for themselves for financial reasons. In this case, you need to buy a device with powerful multidirectional microphones, which allows you to pick up sounds from different directions.
For those who can afford the most modern models, it is useful to know that there are hearing aids that can automatically switch when you bring a mobile phone to your ear to a special mode that improves sound quality. And there are also models that can directly connect to any mobile device via bluetooth or infrared.
But even if you read a thousand more tips on the Internet about what hearing aids are, how to choose and set them yourself, it will not make you a specialist.
The human ear is a complex and sensitive organ, while a diseased ear is a disabled organ. Leaving only 1-2 important factors unaccounted for, you can buy the best hearing aid, and it will turn out to be an expensive useless toy for you. Therefore, our strong advice is not to experiment with your health. Ultimately, saving on doctor's consultation can result in additional costs for treatment.
