Many hearing aid buyers are interested in add-ons and options, so in this article we provide some of our suggestions.
No matter which style or model of hearing aid you wear, these particular accessories are fairly common.
The first thing you should think of is less an accessory than a necessity; stock up on batteries, because you are going to need them. Disposable batteries used in hearing aids tend to last, depending on how many hours you wear them, for 5 to 14 days.
Next on your list of “must have” accessories should be a hearing aid dehumidifier to protect it from moisture and thus keep it working well. Placing your hearing aid in the dehumidifier nightly when you are not wearing it will help keep it in good working condition. Cleaning kits are available to keep the exterior of your hearing aids clean. Ear wax filters help keep wax from accumulating on the aids when you are wearing them.
When it comes to options that can increase your use of and enjoyment of your aids, you should look into the Bluetooth compatibility options provided by the manufacturer of your hearing aid. Many digital hearing aids support the Bluetooth wireless connection standard, which means that they can be configured to stream sound directly from many mobile phones, audio players such as iPods, and televisions. The Bluetooth connection allows you to enjoy these devices without having to be very close to them or turn up the volume.
Another way of doing this if you have an analog hearing aid is to use an FM system, which is basically a remote microphone/transmitter that you can place near the TV or stereo and a remote receiver/amplifier that you place closer to your hearing aid. These low-cost FM systems can be an advantage in noisy environments or those shared with other people; you can hear conversations spoken in a normal tone of voice near you while also hearing music or the TV played from much further away.
If you have questions about the hearing aid accessories described in this article or any others you’ve heard about, please don’t hesitate to ask. Smart selection of accessories goes a long way toward maintaining and enjoying your aid.