Before choosing a hearing aid there are a number of factors to consider. Most of these depend on the specific characteristics of your hearing loss, while others are more personal. 

The most important function of any hearing aid is to compensate for your hearing loss in situations where you need some extra help. 

Some people want their instruments to be as stylish and discreet as possible, others would like their hearing aids to be easy to use and simple to maintain. 

Either way, your hearing care professional will be able to recommend a solution and help you make the right choice. Use the Hearing Center Locator to find someone in your area.

Three physical factors 

1. The degree of your hearing loss
Your hearing care professional will examine you to determine the exact degree and type of your hearing loss. If, for example, you have severe hearing loss, a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) instrument might be the most appropriate choice, as it can provide more powerful amplification.

2. The anatomy of your ear
The space inside our ears varies from person to person. Most ears are big enough for an In-the-Ear hearing aid, but may not always be large enough to accommodate the smallest types that fit deep into the ear canal.

3. Do you need two hearing instruments?
Two ears are always better than one, so if you do have a hearing loss in both ears, you should consider wearing two hearing aids. Not because they make things twice as loud, but because - by mimicking the natural hearing process - they give you a better sense of where the sound is coming from. They also make it easier to understand what people are saying in noisy surroundings. Compared to one instrument, the overall sound quality and comfort from two is usually better.

Five personal factors 

When selecting a hearing aid, don't forget your own personal needs.

1. Communication needs
Take some time to think about the situations where you would like to improve your hearing. When and where do you need extra help? What are your requirements at work and at home and what are your favourite leisure activities - including the ones you've stopped doing because of communication problems? 

If you clearly define these requirements, your hearing care professional will be able to help you find a hearing instrument that fullfils most of your needs.

2. Handling the instruments
The smaller the instrument, the smaller the controls and batteries. So if your eyes are not what they used to be, or your fingers cannot cope with adjusting small controls, you will find a larger instrument easier to handle. 

3. Cosmetic appearance
Hearing aids are available in a wide variety of sizes and colours to suit your own personal tastes. You may want something discreet like an In-the-Canal style, or a Behind-the-Ear model in a colour which closely matches your hair or skin tone. 

Many children prefer to wear brightly coloured Behind-the-Ear instruments. Either way, your hearing care professional can help you find the style that suits you best.

4. The price factor
Better hearing means a better quality of life, so it should be viewed as an investment in yourself and your health. No matter what your budget is, you should be able to find hearing aids that meet your personal requirements. 

Hearing aids come in different price ranges, and medical insurance plans have varying policies for coverage of hearing care as a health benefit. Some insurance plans cover part of the diagnostic testing but currently only few plans cover the full cost of the instruments. So remember to explore all the options together with your hearing care professional before making your final decision. 

5. Sound quality
Technology is everywhere today, helping to solve people's problems. It certainly has improved the size and performance of hearing aids.

Some of the most sophisticated instruments today are digital, running on powerful computer microchips to provide the best possible sound quality.