Hearing loss can be isolating, frustrating, and stressful to deal with alone. If you’re looking for how to address your hearing challenges with professional assistance, you’re in the right place.Â
With several options for treatment on the market, it can be difficult to know what to turn to, especially when you’re not sure what you and your ears need most. Hearing loss is incredibly common, and it can be managed in a few different ways, depending on whether you’re on the hunt for a do-it-yourself solution or a guided treatment plan.Â
Hearing Technology or Hearing Care?Â
Over the past decade, hearing aid technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, from the introduction of Bluetooth streaming for direct calls to your hearing aids to the latest ventures into artificial intelligence and sound-processing capabilities.Â
However, hearing aids without a prescription for your hearing loss are akin to a pair of glasses without your specific lens requirements—great technology that needs a professional’s touch.Â
Hearing aids and other assistive technology are often seen as the “solution” to hearing loss, but the truth is that hearing tech is just one piece of the puzzle. Â
In reality, the guidance and support of a professional audiologist will make the largest difference in your hearing health; an expert in all things hearing care will provide comprehensive care and advice with your specifications at front of mind.Â
What Are My Options to Optimize My Hearing?Â
Whether you’re looking for a simple solution for noise amplification or a more complex device to address your unique needs, there are several options for addressing hearing loss that fit all levels of tech-savviness.Â
1. Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs)
PSAPs increase the volume for everything the microphone picks up, allowing for general sound amplification. They fit snugly into your ear and bring up the volume of all sound they pick up.Â
These are like a magnifying glass, which increases visibility for everything within the lens—a good possibility for some situations, but not all. PSAPs amplify all sound, so if your hearing challenges relate to certain pitches being unheard, you won’t find specialized help with all sound amplified. Â
2. Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Federally authorized in 2022, over-the-counter hearing aids are an accessible choice for people who need hearing technology on a budget. Readily available at most stores, over-the-counter hearing aids are equal to storebought reading glasses: a general solution that works for some individuals, but not all.Â
Over-the-counter hearing aids come preprogrammed to address some levels of hearing loss, but because they’re not prescribed to your specific needs, you may find yourself frustrated with being able to hear a little, but not everything. They also don’t help address hearing challenges from earwax impaction, tinnitus, auditory processing disorder, or other more specific things.Â
3. Apple AirPods Pro 2—Hearing Aid Features
In October 2024, Apple released iOS 18, which includes the much-rumored hearing aid features in their latest AirPods model. These new features are the ability to test your hearing at home with their built-in hearing test and utilize your AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids.Â
Touted as being on the same level as a “clinical grade hearing aid,” Apple’s hearing aid features leave a few things to be desired. Their hearing test is a pure-tone audiometry test, which has you listen for a few different sounds before seeing your current levels of hearing. Â
In comparison, a comprehensive hearing test from an audiologist will provide a pure-tone audiometry test as well as several others, to provide you with an exhaustive level of understanding about your ears and what they need to succeed.Â
Apple’s hearing aid features are a huge step forward, but also a few steps back—while more people are talking about hearing care and normalizing it thanks to Apple’s innovations, these new features are not a comprehensive solution to address your hearing for the long term.Â
If your Apple hearing test results show signs of hearing loss, we encourage you to come and visit us to get more in-depth results.Â
4. Costco or Big-Box Store Hearing Aids
Costco has been retailing hearing aids for a long time; their Kirkland-branded devices come after a pure-tone audiometry test and are an accessible option for those with Costco memberships looking to take care of their hearing.Â
However, Costco’s retail status means that booking in follow-up care or repairs/replacements for your devices could leave you waiting for weeks without care. Plus, rather than seeing how to address your unique needs as a patient, Costco sees your hearing loss as “solved” by their devices, and if you’re struggling with tinnitus or earwax impaction, they won’t be able to help. Â
6. Working With a Local Audiologist
For comprehensive care for all manner of hearing needs, from hearing tests to hearing aids, tinnitus treatment to earwax repair, working with a local team of hearing care experts is the best choice for your long-lasting health and overall wellbeing.Â
Your audiologist will test your hearing with a variety of methods to ensure your hearing aids, if needed, will address any and all hearing challenges you’re dealing with. You can rest assured that your devices will be handpicked by a professional with your best interests at heart.Â
Begin Your Hearing Health Journey With Jacobs Audiology
Our team of audiologists and hearing care experts is here to help, every step of the way.Â
No matter your hearing challenges, lifestyle choices, budget, or medical requirements, we’ll tailor our approach to fit your unique needs. You’ll be put first with our team as we explore the best way to optimize your hearing.Â
To get in touch with our team, or chat with us about your circumstances, please don’t hesitate to request a callback; we’ll get back to you as soon as we can to help.Â
Alternatively, you can find your closest clinic and give us a call in:Â
Bowie, MD: (301) 860-1124
Southern Maryland: (410) 535-0024
Waldorf, MD: (410) 535-0024Â
