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Buying a hearing aid is a major decision and a device that should last you for many years to come. As such, it's important that you do your research and select the hearing aid that's best for you and your lifestyle. After all, with the average price of a hearing aid at just around $4,500, the last thing you want is to make the wrong choice. Fortunately, by asking three important questions before choosing a hearing aid, you'll have the best chances of making a choice you'll be happy with for years to come.

How Many Channels Are Needed?

These days, many hearing aids come with the ability to program multiple different channels that you can easily alternate between as needed. Each channel will be optimized to help you hear in certain situations, such as outside, in your home, and inside a loud venue (such as a concert hall or sporting arena). By determining how many different channels you'll need on a regular basis, you can choose a hearing aid that has the ability to program as many of them as your lifestyle requires.

Which Features Are Included?

When you obtain a quote for your hearing aid, make sure you ask for a detailed breakdown of what's included with that quote. For example, does the hearing aid come with a remote so you can easily change settings and switch from channel to channel? You may also want to look for other important features that'll make your life easier, such as:

• included directional microphones
• ability to connect to telephones and other assisted hearing devices
• automatic volume adjustment 

What Type of Maintenance is Required?

Finally, understand that all hearing aids will require some care and maintenance on your part—though some models will require more care than others. Find out what type of maintenance regimen you should follow with your hearing aid, such as how it should be stored (will you need to buy a special case for it?) and how often it should be brought in for service in order to keep it within its manufacturer's warranty. If you'd prefer to spend a little more upfront for a lower-maintenance hearing aid, communicate this with your hearing specialist.

Picking out a hearing aid is not a task that should be taken lightly. By asking these three simple yet important questions as you shop around, you'll ultimately be able to make the decision that's best for your needs.