It’s difficult to be separated from your hearing aid once you get used to using one. After all, your hearing aids are essential to connect to your world. But it will occasionally need to be updated or replaced just like any technology.
The Typical Hearing Aid Lifespan
So the typical hearing aid will last how long?3 to 5 years will be the normal lifespan of a typical hearing aid. But that’s not a strict rule, and you should have your hearing examined regularly to make certain your hearing aid is still the best choice for you. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models age more quickly than others and technology is continuously changing.
Factors That Might Affect Your Hearing Aid Longevity
But that’s only the average life of a hearing aid. Which means that there are a lot of people who may have their hearing aids last much longer. How long your hearing aids will last is determined by a number of considerations:
- Capability: Hearing aids have been changing along with constantly advancing technology. If you want your hearing aids to sync up with your television, smartphone, or other devices, or to just have the best sound, you might want to upgrade.
- Regular care and maintenance: A hearing aid is like all other technology in a lot of ways: it will last longer if you take better care of it. That’s the reason why you should always clean your hearing aids and conduct regular maintenance just as as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
- The Hearing Aid’s Complexity: The more complex your hearing aid is, the more variables you have to contend with (meaning there’s more that can go wrong). However, you might need that additional complexity, and usually, it ends up being worth it. But additional complex technology does present a breakability element. Advanced hearing aids have become very wise about introducing more functionality using software instead of hardware, which is helpful.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re an adult and you have a hearing aid, you’ve probably decided on one of those little, easy to hide devices. Those devices have the exact amount of power you need and are very precisely calibrated. So if your hearing gets worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you might need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
- How often your hearing aids are worn: So if you wear your hearing aid more often, you will to replace it sooner. But that’s not always true, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long durations. It’s really more accurate to say that if you turn the power on and off frequently, you will have to replace your hearing aid sooner.
- Quality of Build: Hearing aids are costly. But, as with most things in life, you commonly get what you pay for. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid is likely to last.
Can You Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer?
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They may have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed especially for you. They are also a significant investment. So it’s a common goal to get the most out of your hearing aid.
And it’s one you can accomplish. Really, the best thing you can do to make certain your hearing aids last as long as possible is to care for them. Dropping them or getting them wet are things you should never do if possible. And all the required upkeep and cleaning are things you should never ignore.
Your hearing aids should last a good five years. Whether you will be able to get more than that is, often, up to chance. But at some point when you have to make a choice. Inevitably, you will likely want the new features offered by modern hearing aids. So, in order to determine which hearing aid is best for you, schedule a hearing test right away.