24th November 2025

Choosing the Best Hearing Aid in Canberra: A 3-Step Process

Choosing the right hearing aid is one of the most important steps you can take for your hearing health. Every hearing aid has its own strengths and limitations, so the best option depends on your personal goals, lifestyle, and level of hearing loss.

At Canberra Hearing, Lead Audiometrist, Matt Cannon, uses a proven 3-step process to ensure you get the most appropriate recommendation for your needs.

Matt’s 3-Step Process for Choosing the Right Hearing Aid

If you follow this approach, you’ll have the best chance of selecting a hearing aid that is effective, practical, and easy to manage. The three steps are:

Set realistic and achievable goals

Consider dexterity and cognition

Match the device to the severity of your hearing loss

Step 1 – Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

According to Matt, goal setting is the single most important factor in choosing the best hearing aid. Your goals should be specific, realistic, and measurable.

Examples of vague goals that don’t help:

I want to hear better in noise

I want to hear on the phone

I want better clarity

These are too broad. Instead, consider clear, situation-based goals:

I would like to hear my partner more clearly when dining out in a busy restaurant.

I struggle to understand unfamiliar voices on the phone, such as customer service staff, and want to improve this.

When watching television, I want to improve speech clarity so I can follow dialogue in dramas more easily.

By setting goals like these, we can measure whether your hearing aids are helping and recommend complementary strategies, such as hearing tactics for noisy environments.

Learn more about hearing assessments at Canberra Hearing.

Step 2 – Consider Dexterity and Cognition

Your ability to handle and use your hearing aid is a key factor in finding the right solution.

If you have reduced finger sensation, arthritis, or larger fingers, tiny in-the-ear hearing aids may not be practical. These often require very small batteries to be changed every few days.

In this case, a rechargeable behind-the-ear hearing aid may be more suitable. These devices are simple to use, just place them in a charging dock overnight and they switch on automatically in the morning.

Cognition also plays a role. If your memory is not what it used to be, sticking with a hearing aid style you are already familiar with can prevent confusion and improve long-term outcomes.

Find out more about rechargeable hearing aids available at Canberra Hearing.

Step 3 – Consider the Severity of Your Hearing Loss

This step can only be addressed after a comprehensive hearing assessment with an audiometrist. The severity and type of your hearing loss will determine which hearing aids are most appropriate.

The greater the hearing loss, the more amplification you’ll need, often requiring a slightly larger device.

The type of hearing loss and whether one or both ears are affected also influences the best solution.

Your audiometrist will guide you through this step to ensure your chosen device provides maximum benefit.

Book your hearing test in Canberra today.

Summary: Finding the Best Hearing Aid for You

By following Matt Cannon’s 3-step process: goal setting, considering dexterity and cognition, and matching the device to the severity of your hearing loss; you’ll have the best chance of selecting a hearing aid that truly improves your quality of life.

If you’re ready to take the next step, the team at Canberra Hearing is here to help.

About Canberra Hearing

At Canberra Hearing, we provide personalised hearing care using state-of-the-art technology for accurate diagnosis and effective solutions. As an independent hearing clinic, we are not tied to any single manufacturer, which means we can recommend the hearing aid that best suits your needs and lifestyle.

From hearing assessments to ear wax removal and advanced hearing aids, our team is here to support you every step of the way.