You know it’s time to replace your hearing aid if you’re still using one of those old-fashioned ear trumpets. Making that call when you have conventional hearing aids is more difficult, however, so how do you know? You purchased your hearing aids 10 years ago, and they still get the job done, right?
While it could be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, it’s likely that what little benefit you get from using them comes at a price. In the past several years, hearing aids have advanced considerably. Some of the features of modern-day hearing aids hadn’t even been invented 10 years ago. For one thing, they’ve gone to digital from analog. Why should you be considering an upgrade? Here are some good reasons.
Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable
Outdated or even low-quality hearing aids have real problems like that annoying buzz you hear every now and then. And it’s always a great time when you get near a phone and your hearing aid starts to feedback. Occasionally that high pitched feedback comes from nowhere, too. Now why is it feeding back?
You’ve Become Complacent With Its Failings
You’re used to going to a quiet place while everybody around you participates in conversation or questioning why the air conditioning unit is so loud. Remember the time your grandchild performed a beautiful song for you, but you only heard parts of her song because your hearing aids kept going out. But you still clapped.
These are all drawbacks linked to outdated hearing aids. Raising the volume was the primary objective in hearing aids ten years ago. Nowadays, undesirable noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do many other truly amazing things.
Outdated Hearing Aids Will Cost You More Money
When you’re considering upgrading your hearing aid, cost is a major consideration. The new technology is not cheap, but neither is wearing an old, out-of-date hearing aid. You will be constantly buying new batteries when you have an analog hearing aid. If you are buying new batteries on a daily basis, or even more than once a day, the costs add up.
Out of date hearings aids can potentially need repair, also.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 always in the repair shop.
Smart Technology is a Thing Now
Most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth capabilities. An analog hearing aid won’t come with that feature. Your phone, tablet, 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 clear that it would be an asset to your career if you had better hearing aids. You will hear customers and your boss better. You won’t need to stress out about missing some important piece of information or if your hearing aid battery will quit when you need it most.
And obviously you will have a better quality of life if you have good communication skills. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower during discussions anymore. Jump right in and get involved with the people around you.
You Just Want Your Hearing Aid to be More Stylish
When you look at your old hearing aid in the mirror, how do you feel? Awkward? Totally obvious? Does this make me look old? One of the most considerable advantages that come with replacing old hearing aids is design and versatility. You can purchase hearing aids in many colors, shapes, and sizes nowadays. You can have one tucked so tightly into your ear that nobody will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with an out of the ear hearing aid in your favorite color.
How to Recognize That it’s Time to Upgrade
Now you understand all the reasons you should get a hearing aid upgrade, but not what you should specifically look for that says your device is at risk of being called an antique. Here are a few telling signs that the time has come:
- There are changes in your hearing. You don’t hear as good as you used to even with the hearing aid in place.
- Your outdated hearing aid just can’t keep up with your evolving life. It’s a chore to take it out just to talk on the phone, or maybe you’ve changed jobs and now have to deal with more background noise.
- Your hearing aid intermittently quits working. You really can’t rely on it functioning when you most need it.
- It’s clear that you have an analog device. You ought to go digital as soon as possible.
- Your hearing aid seems heavy. Clunky, old technology weighs a lot.
- Your hearing aid is all you see when you look in a mirror. That old technology takes up a lot of space, too.
- You constantly need to change the batteries. Modern hearing aids are often rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It isn’t brain surgery. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.