While hearing loss is more common as we age, millions of younger adults also experience hearing loss and benefit from hearing aids.
I got hearing aids at age 30, and I've been surprised at the range of modern technology for people of all ages.
If you are a younger person (or young at heart), this guide is for you.
I'll break down my hearing aid experience and give some insights on what you might look for.
Note: If you are researching for someone under 18, you’ll want to work with a pediatric audiologist who specializes in children’s hearing aids. This guide is focused on products available to adults over 18.
Resetting Expectations
As a young person with hearing loss, one of the first things I wanted to know was whether hearing aids had evolved in recent decades. I have distinct memories of my grandparents' large, beige, and constantly squealing devices. I think I Googled something like "are their modern hearing aids?"
Fortunately, hearing aid innovation has sent my grandparents' version into distant memory. Today's hearing aids are tiny (sometimes invisible) and rechargeable; many offer Bluetooth streaming from iPhone and Android.
