Easy to Use Hearing Aids: Choosing for Your Hands, Eyesight and Routine

AudiologyOctober 13, 20268 min read

Easy to use hearing aids are the ones you can put in, take out, switch on, adjust and charge or power without struggling, every day. For most people that means a size you can hold firmly, controls you can feel, a power routine that fits your memory and eyesight, and someone to help when you need it. The easiest hearing aid for you is chosen with an audiologist after a hearing test, because it also has to suit your hearing loss.

Handling matters more than many people expect. A hearing aid that is fiddly to insert or hard to switch on tends to stay in the drawer, and a hearing aid that stays in the drawer does not help anyone. Thinking about your hands, your eyes and your daily routine before you choose is one of the simplest ways to get real benefit from hearing aids.

What makes a hearing aid easy to use?

Ease of use is personal. The same model can feel simple to one person and awkward to another. These are the practical points that usually make the difference:

Size you can grip. Larger devices are easier to hold, turn the right way and place behind or in the ear.
Controls you can find by touch. A push button or toggle that you can feel without looking helps when you change a program or the volume.
A power routine you can remember. Placing hearing aids in a charger every night is simpler for some people than changing small batteries.
Clear left and right. Being able to tell the right and left hearing aids apart saves frustration every morning.
Simple cleaning. Wax guards, domes and filters need regular care, so the steps should be ones you can manage.
Support nearby. A family member who knows the basics, and a clinic that follows you up, make everyday problems easier to solve.

Dexterity, eyesight and memory: what to tell your audiologist

Hands and fingers

Arthritis, tremor, reduced feeling in the fingertips or weakness after a stroke can make small parts hard to handle. The US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) notes that canal hearing aids, because they are small, may be difficult to adjust and remove. If your fingers are not as steady as they were, say so at your appointment. A behind-the-ear (BTE) or receiver-in-canal (RIC) style may be easier to manage than a tiny in-canal device.

Eyesight

Changing a battery or fitting a dome needs reasonable close-up vision. If you find small print hard to read, a rechargeable model can remove the battery step altogether, and good light plus a mirror helps with insertion. Ask to practise in the clinic until it feels natural.

Memory

Some people forget to switch hearing aids off, to charge them or to carry spare batteries. A fixed routine helps: the same place at night, the same time every morning. A rechargeable hearing aid that lives in its charger overnight can turn this into a single habit.

Larger BTE or a small device?

Smaller hearing aids are more discreet, but discretion and ease of handling often pull in opposite directions. NIDCD describes behind-the-ear hearing aids as used by people of all ages for mild to profound hearing loss, while canal aids are used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss and have less room for batteries and extra features.

In our hearing aids catalogue, the Danavox families include several behind-the-ear designs (Mini BTE, Standard BTE, Power BTE and Super Power BTE) as well as RIC, MiniRIE and MicroRIE designs. The KLAR family also includes two completely-in-canal (CIC) models, which use size 10 zinc-air batteries and, according to the catalogue, require a cabled fitting. Your test results decide which of these are possible for you; your hands and eyes help decide which of those is easiest.

Rechargeable or small batteries?

Removing the battery change is one of the most common ways to make a hearing aid easier to live with. Several Danavox families in the catalogue include rechargeable models: KLAR, Boreal, Brisa, Astro Core, Astro Pro and Astro Pro SP. Not every model in these families is rechargeable, however. Each family also lists models that run on disposable zinc-air batteries, apart from Astro Pro SP, whose models are all rechargeable. The Barani and Anthe families use zinc-air batteries only.

Danavox lists three chargers in the accessories range:

Desktop Charger: a plug-and-play charger that Danavox describes as a simple design that fits easily into daily routines.
Standard Charger: a carry-case style charger with a lid and a removable cable, which charges when connected to power.
Premium Charger: a powerbank-style charger with its own battery; according to Danavox, it provides up to three days of on-the-go charging without a power outlet.

Disposable batteries still suit some people, for example those who prefer not to depend on a charger. Our article on rechargeable vs battery hearing aids explains the trade-offs in more detail.

Buttons, toggles and remote controls

Many models in the catalogue list a programmable push button or a toggle on the hearing aid itself, which the audiologist can set up for volume or program changes. Some MicroRIE models in the Brisa and Astro Pro families list TapControl, and the Brisa entry describes it for picking up calls on iPhone and iPad.

If buttons on a small device are hard to press, a separate remote can help. The Danavox Remote Control, listed with the hearing aid accessories, is described as changing programs and adjusting volume, with large easy-to-use buttons and a lock key to avoid accidental activation. It works with compatible hearing aids, so ask our team which hearing aids it suits before deciding.

How family can help

A relative who joins the fitting appointment can learn how to clean the hearing aids, check the charger, change a dome or battery and spot when something is wrong. This is especially useful for older adults; our guide to hearing tests and hearing aids for older adults covers the wider picture. Helpful habits for family members include:

Keep the charger or spare batteries in one agreed place.
Check that the hearing aids are in and switched on before a conversation or visit.
Write down any problem, with the time and situation, to share at the next follow-up.
Encourage regular wear rather than only on special occasions.

Support after the fitting

Ease of use is not only about the device. At Jordan Hearing & Speech, after-sales care includes programming, fine-tuning, maintenance, follow-up, cleaning and periodic check-ups. For patients who are unable to come to the clinic, we also offer home support. If handling is still difficult after the fitting, mention it at your follow-up; settings, controls and routines can often be adjusted around you.

Frequently asked questions

Which hearing aid style is easiest to handle?

Larger styles, such as behind-the-ear hearing aids, are usually easier to hold, insert and clean than very small in-canal devices. NIDCD notes that small canal aids may be difficult to adjust and remove. The right style still depends on your hearing test results.

Are rechargeable hearing aids easier to use?

For many people, yes, because there are no small batteries to change; the hearing aids go into a charger at night. Some people still prefer disposable batteries. In the Danavox catalogue, rechargeable options exist in several families but not in every model, so the choice is confirmed model by model.

Can I control my hearing aids without touching them?

Some hearing aids work with a separate remote. The Danavox Remote Control is described as changing programs and adjusting volume with large buttons, and it works with compatible hearing aids. Ask our team whether it suits the model recommended for you.

What if a parent cannot come to the clinic?

Jordan Hearing & Speech offers home support for patients who are unable to come to the clinic. Contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +968 9171 8373 to discuss the situation.

Book an appointment

Choosing easy to use hearing aids starts with a hearing test. Our clinic is in Bousher, Muscat, opposite Oman Mall, and you do not need a referral. Book an appointment and tell us about anything that makes handling small objects hard for you.

Sources

NIDCD (NIH) — Hearing aids
Danavox portfolio and accessories, as published in our hearing aids catalogue on this site.

This article is general information and does not replace advice from a qualified professional.

Adult Hearing Tests & Assessment