How to Choose Hearing Aids Based on Your Lifestyle

Modern hearing aids are designed to help you hear better and support the way you live, work and connect. When selecting a hearing aid, consider what works for your unique lifestyle and priorities.

“Although most hearing aids cater to a wide range of general hearing needs, the right choice still depends on your specific needs,” explains hearing care professional A. Moerman. “You should consider lifestyle factors such as occupation, leisure activities and sound environments to help you find a solution that truly suits you.”

Whether you’re at work, at the gym or out with friends, modern options are designed to fit right in.

Not all hearing aids are created equal, and we’re not just talking about their shape or how they sit on your ear. The technology inside your hearing aids plays a huge role in how well they perform in your everyday life.

Basic models may be ideal if you mostly spend time in quiet, one-on-one settings. But if your days include business meetings, busy cafes or outdoor sports, you’ll likely benefit more from advanced to premium hearing aids that can automatically adapt to these more complex environments.

Choosing the right level of technology helps you hear speech clearly, reduce background distractions, and enjoy a more natural and comfortable listening experience in any situation. That’s why it’s a good idea to talk to your audiologist about what type of support your hearing needs day to day, not just how the device looks or feels in your ear.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids offer a secure, comfortable fit, making them a great choice for active individuals and sports enthusiasts. Their design keeps sensitive parts away from sweat and moisture, enhancing durability.

BTEs are also easier to handle, making them a smart choice for people with dexterity or vision impairments. They are commonly used for mild to profound hearing loss, as they support more powerful amplification and larger batteries.

Sometimes in life, you can have the best of both worlds. A RIC hearing aid is a great example of this, combining the discretion of an ITE with the technology, longevity and comfort of a BTE.

“RIC or BTE hearing aids, which are fitted well with the right size receiver and/or tube, and proper dome/sleeve/earmoulds, will stay in the ear well,” says Moerman, adding “so there is no need to worry about losing your hearing aid”. It’s a great choice if you’re very active or want added peace of mind.

If you wear glasses, you’ve probably wondered how hearing aids will fit alongside your frames, especially behind the ears. The good news is, many modern hearing aid designs take this into account.

For example, within the popular Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) style, there are slim RIC options that offer a thinner, more discreet profile. These are often more comfortable for glasses wearers as they reduce the feeling of “stacking” devices behind your ears.

Some hearing aid designs have gone a step further, creating devices specifically tailored for those who wear spectacles. These hearing aids are not only sleeker in shape, but some also reposition the microphones for better performance when worn with glasses, helping reduce feedback and improve sound clarity.

Alternatively, if the idea of wearing both glasses and hearing aids at once is not appealing, you might consider In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids instead. These sit entirely within the ear and free up space behind the ears, offering a more streamlined option for glasses wearers.