You know it’s time to replace your hearing aid if you’re still using one of those old-school ear trumpets. Coming to that realization when you have conventional hearing aids is more difficult, however, so how do you know? Your ten year old hearing aids still work, right?
While it may be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what little benefit you get from them comes at a price. Hearing aid technology has advanced in the last few years. It’s advanced from analog to digital, for starters, and there are features now that weren’t even invented a decade ago. Why should you be contemplating an upgrade? Here are some good reasons.
Old Hearing Aids Are Unreliable
Older or even poor-quality hearing aids have real issues like that irritating buzz you hear every once in a while. And it’s always a fun time when you get near a phone and your hearing aid begins to feedback. That loud feedback sometimes occurs for no apparent reason. What caused it now?
You’ve Gotten Used to Its Failings
You are used to going to a quiet place while everyone around you take part in conversation or questioning why the air conditioner is so noisy. Recall the time your grandchild performed a beautiful song for you, but you only heard every other word because your hearing aids kept cutting out. Of course, you still clapped.
Outdated hearing aids have all of these types of problems. Raising the volume was the primary objective in hearing aids a decade ago. Today, hearing aids do magic tricks such as filtering out background noise, so no more noisy air conditioner.
Old Hearing Aids Will Cost You More Money
When you’re considering a hearing aid upgrade, cost is a big factor. You will need to make a preliminary investment with new hearing aids but old ones will also be costly over time. Analog devices need new batteries frequently. If you are replacing the batteries every single day, or even more often than that, the costs can get very high.
Out of date hearings aids can potentially spend more time at the shop, also. If you think of your hearing aid like you think of a 1992 car you would understand where we are coming from. Repairs are expensive and it’s constantly in the shop.
Smart Technology is a Thing Now
Many modern hearing aids come with Bluetooth functionality. An analog device won’t come with that feature. Your tablet, phone, and even your computer can be connected, via Bluetooth, to your hearing digital aid.
The Secret to Everything is Communication
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a lower paycheck. So it’s clear that it would be an asset to your career if you had newer hearing aids. You will hear your boss and customers better. You will be capable of following directions without wondering if you heard it right and have critical conversations without worrying about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And obviously you will have a better quality of life if you have effective communication skills. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower in the middle of conversations anymore. Jump right in and engage with the people around you.
You Just Want Your Hearing Aid to be Cooler
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, what words come to mind? Awkward? Totally obvious? Oh my god? One of the most significant benefits that come with replacing old hearing aids is style and versatility. You can get hearing aids in lots of colors, sizes, and shapes nowadays. You can have one concealed so tight in your ear that no one will ever see it, or you can make a fashion statement with an out of the ear hearing aid in your favorite color.
Clues That It’s Time
Now you see why a hearing aid upgrade is important, now it’s time to learn what makes a hearing aid outdated. Here are some telling indications that the time has come:
- There are changes in your hearing. Even when you have the hearing aids in your ears, it seems as if you don’t hear as well.
- Your life has evolved, and your hearing aid has a hard time keeping up. Every time you have to use the phone, you have to remove it and background noise has become a real problem.
- Your hearing aid randomly quits working. It’s just not dependable anymore, and that’s a problem.
- It’s clear that you have an analog hearing aid. You should go digital as soon as you can.
- Your ears feel heavy. Analog hearing aids weigh a lot.
- Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. Back when that old hearing aid was new, technology was much larger.
- You are replacing the batteries every day. Contemporary hearing aids are more energy efficient, and many are rechargeable.
It’s not brain surgery. It’s time to upgrade your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.