What Are Hearing Aid Accessories?

To help you make the most of your hearing aid, there are a range of useful accessories available. Some of them are essential for the maintenance and upkeep of your hearing aid devices, and others are purely optional.

We will take a look at just a few of the accessories available to you below, but for more detailed advice, speak to a member of our team for a closer look at some of the products that you might want to consider for use with your hearing aid. 

Batteries

Some hearing aids use rechargeable technologies, but most require an ongoing supply of disposable button batteries to power them.

Hearing aid batteries come in four different sizes, and your audiologist will let you know which size is appropriate for your hearing device. They come in standardized colors, so you won't mistake the batteries you need when shopping on or offline. Be sure to keep your battery supply topped up and always carry a spare set around with you, as you don't want your hearing aid to fail when you need it the most. 

Cleaning tools

Regular cleaning will ensure your hearing aids always work reliably, and in some cases, extend their lifespan, so speak to your audiologist about the tools you should use. 

Hearing aid kits are widely available, and most come with a wax pick and brush so you can gently clean away the wax and other debris that has accumulated on your hearing aid device. You do need to be careful, however, as you could cause damage if you use your tools incorrectly or if you use a chemical cleaning product along with them. There are some cleaning tips here, so have a read, and speak to your audiologist for specialist advice. 

Bluetooth streaming devices

Many of today's advanced hearing aids are Bluetooth compatible, meaning you can connect your hearing aid wirelessly to your cellphone, MP3 player, television, tablet, laptop and any other piece of tech that is Bluetooth-enabled. With an external Bluetooth streaming device that is designed to work with your brand of hearing aid, you will be able to take full advantage of your home devices. So, whether you are watching a movie on your laptop or facetiming a family member, you should have little trouble with your hearing when using them, as the streamer you are using will transmit the sounds you need to hear directly into your hearing aid.

Assistive listening devices

Hearing aids are powerful little devices that can make a real difference to your everyday life. However, there are some situations where an assistive listening device can come in very handy. There are a wide range of ALD's available on the market today, many of which have specific uses. 

FM systems can be used to help you understand what others are saying in noisy situations, such as in the classroom or at public events. The person doing the speaking will wear the microphone portion of the FM system and you will wear the receiver which will have been integrated into your hearing aid.

Amplified phones enable you to hear speech more clearly, and some of them come with amplified ring tones to ensure you never miss a call. 

Sound amplification devices can connect to your hearing aid, so you are able to hear such items as your doorbell, alarm clock and fire alarm. There are also alerting devices available that can provide visual as well as auditory clues, such as flashing smoke alarms that let you know you have probably burned your evening meal again!

Hearing aid accessories for your lifestyle

There are all kinds of accessories available, including clips that prevent your hearing aid from falling out when engaged in a sport or other physical activity and accessories such as colorful charms and decals that can be attached to your hearing aid to help you express your individuality. For both practicalities' sake and for fun, have a look online at the various accessories that can accommodate your daily living.

We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to hearing aid accessories, but if you would like to know more, take a look around our website, and contact us at (605) 610-3466. And if you would like to know more about the services, we can offer here at Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Whether you are having trouble with your hearing, need tips on looking after your hearing aids or are in need of advice on any other matter related to your hearing health, we are here to support you in whatever way we can.