If you are experiencing hearing loss, odds are good that you’ll benefit from a hearing aid. But choosing the right one is no simple task. Today’s hearing aids are smaller and more feature-packed than their predecessors, offering an array of options.

Narrowing the choices down can be tough, but there are a few important things you should take into consideration before choosing a hearing aid.

What Are Your Hearing Needs?

First, you’ll need to have an audiologist assess your hearing loss. Severity is measured in degrees, based upon your hearing loss range in decibels. It ranges from normal (-10 to 15 dB) to profound (91+ dB), with a total of seven different degrees.

Equally important is the frequency of your hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss resulting from damage to the outer or middle ear affects low frequency sounds, while sensorineural hearing loss, in which damage occurs to the inner ear, results in a loss of high frequency sounds.

You’ll need to choose a hearing aid that targets the frequencies you have trouble comprehending.

What Are Your Lifestyle Needs?

Functionality is an important consideration. With so many available features, you’ll need to decide which ones matter most to you. Popular features include:

• Directional microphones.
• Feedback suppression.
• Amplifiers.
• Digital noise reduction.
• Wax guards.
• Automatic volume control.
• Bluetooth® connectivity.

Extra features are also available. Speak with your audiologist about the pros and cons of these features.

You’ll also have to take into account your lifestyle needs. Whether you enjoy quiet, intimate gatherings with a few close friends or an active outdoors lifestyle that includes a lot of background noise, there is a hearing aid designed specifically for your activity level.

What Is Your Cosmetic Preference?

Cosmetic preference is a key factor in choosing a hearing aid. Since you’ll be wearing it every day, it’s got to not only feel good but appeal to your confidence.

Hearing aids are available in a variety of sizes and styles, some visible while others are implanted deep within the ear canal, rendering them virtually undetectable. Many are custom-molded to fit each individual’s ears.

What Is Your Budget?

Many consumers jump to the conclusion that hearing aids are too expensive. At the other end of the spectrum, they'll point out advertisements for extremely inexpensive options. Be cautious of the product(s) you put in your ears. Some of the cheaper, entry-level products are not classified as hearing aids by the FDA, which requires devices to meet stringent guidelines. Having a professional assist you with the product decision ensures you are protecting your hearing health.

Hearing aids range widely in cost; finding the right product for your needs depends upon a thorough hearing evaluation by a qualified audiologist, who will provide a recommendation perfectly suited to your type and degree of hearing loss and budget, as well as other lifestyle factors.