How to choose a hearing aid: what to consider before deciding

A hearing aid is chosen for a specific ear and a specific person. The starting point is a current audiogram; only then do lifestyle, the shape of the ear and preferences about handling come into play. There is no single model “for everyone”. That is why the choice should rest on a hearing test and a trial of the aid, not on a list of features alone.

What the choice depends on

The hearing aid specialist weighs several things at once:

• Your audiogram — it shows which frequencies are reduced and by how much. This determines the power the aid needs and how it is programmed.
• Degree and type of loss — mild, moderate, severe or profound; conductive, sensorineural or mixed. A profound loss needs a more powerful aid, which limits the choice of the smallest models.
• The shape of your ear — the width and shape of the ear canal, how much wax you produce, the condition of the skin. A very narrow canal can rule out in-the-ear models.
• Lifestyle — working in noise, frequent group conversations, restaurants, sport, remote work on the phone. The more varied your sound environment, the more useful automatic adaptation features become.
• Handling — dexterity and eyesight affect the choice of size, power source (disposable batteries or a rechargeable with a charger) and controls (buttons or an app).
• Connectivity — Bluetooth hearing aids connect to a phone, television or tablet and stream sound directly to the ear. Convenient, but not needed by everyone.
• One ear or two — with loss in both ears, two aids usually give better sound localisation and speech understanding in noise. With one-sided loss, one is enough. If only one ear is affected, find out the cause first — see our guide Hearing loss in one ear.

Types of hearing aid

Behind-the-ear (BTE and RIC)

• RIC (receiver-in-canal) — a small case behind the ear, a thin wire and a receiver sitting in the ear canal. Discreet, light, available as rechargeables. Currently the most commonly fitted type for mild to moderate loss.
• BTE (classic behind-the-ear) — all the electronics sit behind the ear and sound travels through a tube to an earmould. More powerful, more robust and easier to handle; used for greater losses and in children.

In-the-ear (ITE, ITC, CIC)

• The whole aid sits in the outer ear or ear canal and is made from an impression of your ear. The smallest models are almost invisible, but have smaller batteries, fewer features and are more exposed to wax. They need a sufficiently wide ear canal.

Each type has advantages and limitations — the choice follows from the audiogram and daily needs, not from size alone.

How fitting works at Sonar Clinic

Hearing aid selection and fitting is carried out by Paulina Waloszek, MSc, audiologist and certified hearing aid specialist, who has worked in hearing aid fitting since 2015. The process has four stages:

1. Hearing test — pure-tone audiometry and, if needed, tympanometry. The result is the basis for every further decision. If there is wax or fluid in the ear, you are first referred to the ENT specialist.
2. Selection — discussion of the result, your lifestyle and expectations; a proposal of aid type and model. At Sonar Clinic we fit hearing aids from Phonak, Interton and Starkey — the specific model depends on the test result and your needs.
3. Trial — the aid, programmed to your audiogram, can be tried in everyday situations: in conversation, on the street, watching television. Only after this stage is the decision made.
4. Fitting and follow-up — fine-tuning, instruction in handling and care, then follow-up visits at which settings are adjusted as you get used to the aid.

There is no charge for the hearing test carried out during a visit about a hearing aid fitting; other hearing tests are charged according to the price list. More about the aids and brands is on the hearing aids in Wrocław page, and about the tests on the hearing diagnostics page. There is no additional charge for fitting an aid purchased at Sonar Clinic; fitting of an aid bought elsewhere costs 300 zł, and pure-tone audiometry 50 zł — the current price list is on the pricing page. You can book by phone (+48 880 018 703) or online on the specialist’s profile.

Funding — what to know

People insured in Poland can apply for a contribution towards a hearing aid from the National Health Fund (NFZ). The basis is a medical device prescription issued by an authorised doctor (for example an ENT specialist) after a hearing loss of a specified degree has been confirmed. The contribution is available once in a set period and covers a fixed limit — the patient pays the difference up to the price of the chosen model. People with a disability certificate may also apply for additional funding from PFRON, handled by district family support centres (PCPR).

Rules, limits and required documents change, so confirm the current conditions with the NFZ or PCPR before applying. During the visit the hearing aid specialist will explain which documents are needed to claim for the aid.

Care and everyday use

• Wipe the aid daily with a dry, soft cloth; do not use water or alcohol.
• At night remove the batteries or place the aid in its charger; store it somewhere dry, for example in a container with a desiccant.
• Replace wax filters and domes or earmoulds regularly — wax build-up is the most common reason for a “broken” aid.
• Take the aid out before bathing, swimming and using hairspray.
• Attend follow-up visits and repeat the hearing test at the intervals your specialist recommends — the settings need adjusting as your hearing changes.

The first weeks with a hearing aid are a period of adaptation: the brain relearns sounds that were previously inaudible. Wear the aid regularly, note down anything that bothers you and discuss it at the follow-up visit.