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 wear conventional hearing aids is trickier, however, so how does one know? Your decade old hearing aids still function, right?
Maybe you are better off having older hearing aids than having none, what’s the real cost? In the past few years, hearing aids have advanced dramatically. Some of the features of modern hearing aids hadn’t even been invented 10 years ago. For starters, they’ve advanced from analog to digital. Start thinking about some reasons why it’s time for you to be considering an upgrade.
Your Old Hearing Aid Isn’t That Reliable
Outdated or even low-quality hearing aids have serious problems like that annoying buzz you hear every once in a while. And it’s always a fun time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid begins to feedback. Sometimes that shrill feedback comes out of nowhere, too. Now why is this happening?
You’ve Gotten Used to Its Failings
You’re used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you engages in conversation or wondering why the air conditioning unit is so noisy. Remember that time when your hearing aid wouldn’t stop cutting out when you were trying to listen to your grandchild sing a song and you only heard some of what they were singing. You still clapped, though.
Old hearing aids have all of these types of issues. A decade ago the attention was on raising the volume. Nowadays, hearing aids perform magic tricks like filtering out background noise, so say goodbye to the air conditioner.
Outdated Hearing Aids Can be Expensive
When you’re considering upgrading your hearing aid, expense is a big factor. You will need to make an initial investment with new hearing aids but old ones will also be costly over time. You will be constantly replacing batteries when you have an analog hearing aid. You can imagine how expensive it will be, buying new batteries at least once a day.
Repair costs can also escalate with out dated hearing aids. If you think of your hearing aid like a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. Repairs are expensive and it’s constantly in the shop.
Today, we Have Smart Technology
Bluetooth capability is a newer technology that has transformed hearing aid functionality. An analog device won’t come with that feature. Your tablet, phone, and even your computer can be connected, using Bluetooth, to your hearing digital aid.
The Key to Everything is Communication
Studies reveal that hearing loss can mean a reduced paycheck. So it’s obvious that it would be an asset to your career if you had newer hearing aids. It will be easier to hear what your boss and customers are saying. You will be capable of following directions without wondering if you got it right and have critical discussions without worrying about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And obviously you will have an improved quality of life if you have effective communication skills. You don’t need to sit like a wallflower during conversations anymore. Feel free to get right in and engage with others.
You Just Want Your Hearing Aid to be Cooler
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, how do you feel? Clunky? Totally obvious? Does this make me look old? Flexibility and style are some of the more considerable reasons to upgrade your hearing aid. You can purchase hearing aids in many colors, sizes, and shapes nowadays. You can wear a visible one in your favorite color or an internal one hidden from sight inside your ear.
How to Know That it’s Time to Upgrade
Now you recognize why a hearing aid upgrade is necessary, now it’s time to find out what makes a hearing aid obsolete. Here are a few telltale 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 can’t hear as well.
- Your outdated hearing aid just can’t keep up with your evolving life. It’s annoying to take it out just to use the phone, or perhaps you got a new job and now have to deal with more background noise.
- Your hearing aid keeps cutting out. It’s just not dependable anymore, and that’s problematic.
- It’s clear that you have an analog hearing aid. You need to go digital as soon as possible.
- Your hearing aid feels heavy. Awkward, old technology weighs more.
- Your hearing aid juts out like a sore thumb. Back when that old hearing aid was made, technology was much larger.
- You constantly need to switch out the batteries. Modern hearing aids are more energy efficient, and some come with rechargeable batteries.
It isn’t rocket science. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.