Do you remember the feelings and emotions you experienced when you first put on your hearing aid? How much brighter and more fulfilling your life became, filled with clear sounds and voices? If a few years have passed since then, are you sure you are still hearing just as well?
It is not uncommon for people with hearing aids to notice over time that they are hearing “something wrong”. The device seems to be working – it is in good condition. It was carefully looked after, carefully worn. But, just like any equipment, hearing aids have a certain service life. Therefore, the moment comes when they need to be changed.
How do you know when your hearing aid needs to be replaced?
On average, experts recommend changing your hearing aids every 3-5 years. There are a number of simple reasons for this.
- As a rule, manufacturers stop producing spare parts for device models released more than five years ago.
- Technologies in hearing aids are constantly improving. Not surprisingly, today’s entry-level hearing aids are able to outperform the high-end hearing aids of five years ago.
- Hearing can change over time, so it is important to get diagnosed at least every six months. Sometimes the problem can be solved by installing updates and adjusting the existing hearing aid. But if the hearing loss due to health reasons becomes significantly greater as time progresses, then you will need to select a more powerful device.
You don’t need to wait for complete wear and tear before changing your hearing aid
Over time, the performance of your hearing aid will begin to decline. But in some cases, the search for a new, more modern hearing aid should be started even earlier. The need to change your hearing aid may be due to the following circumstances:
Decreased hearing acuity. Over time, hearing tends to deteriorate, and sooner or later there will come a point when the hearing aid no longer meets your needs. In this case, a more powerful and efficient sound reinforcement device is needed.
Lifestyle changes. The hearing aid is always selected taking into account the lifestyle because the sound environment in which the user stays most of the time depends on this. If you are more active, you may need a different hearing aid that has different performance characteristics, increased durability, and increased water resistance.
The emergence of new technologies for hearing aids. Every year, manufacturers of hearing aids introduce innovative technologies into audiology practice that make sound-amplifying devices more effective and useful. If any of these advanced technologies are beneficial to you, then this is an excuse to order a new hearing aid without waiting for the wear and tear of the old one.
In addition, the operating conditions directly affect the service life. To keep your hearing aid working properly and serving you as long as possible, remember to keep it clean and free of damage, and try to protect it from moisture and chemicals. Protect your hearing aid carefully from any mechanical shock and pressure. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions for operating the device. Do not neglect hearing aid check-ups, which are generally recommended once a year. After inspecting the device, an audiology specialist, if necessary, will clean, recalibrate, and repair it and will also tell you what you need to pay attention to when using the device further.
As you can see, determining the exact lifespan of a hearing aid is a very difficult task and depends on many circumstances. However, it is often advisable to upgrade one’s hearing aid every a few years.
References
Retrieved from: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51928-Signs-you-need-a-new-hearing-aid
