Once you get accustomed to your hearing aid, it’s hard to be without it. After all, your hearing aids are important to connect to your world. But it will periodically have to be updated or swapped out just like all technology.
The normal lifespan of a hearing aid
From 3 to 7 years will be the typical lifespan of a hearing aid. But that isn’t a set in stone rule, and you’ll need to get your hearing assessed from time to time to be certain your hearing aid is still the best solution for your lifestyle. As your hearing changes, your current hearing aid may not be the ideal option anymore and with constantly improving technology, some hearing aids will have to be upgraded sooner than others.
Your hearing aid lifespan may be affected by these factors
So, that’s just the typical life of a hearing aid. Meaning that there are plenty of people who might see their hearing aids last a lot longer. Here are a few considerations that will determine how long your hearing aid should last:
- Functionality: Technology is constantly changing and hearing aids are keeping pace with those changes. You might want to upgrade your hearing aid if you want the sharpest sound or if you want to sync with you your smart-devices including your phone or TV.
- Proper care & maintenance: A hearing aid is like most other types of technology in many ways so it should last longer if you take better care of it. That’s why you should always clean your hearing aids and carry out routine maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- How frequently your hearing aids are used: The more often you use your hearing aids, the sooner they will need to be replaced. But that’s not always the situation, modern hearing aids are made to be used for a long time. Actually, it may be more precise to say that the more times you turn the device on and off, the sooner it will wear out.
- Build quality: It can be costly to invest in hearing aids. But, like with most things in life, you usually get what you pay for. Your hearing aid will be longer lasting if it has more robust construction.
- Changes to your hearing: Most adults go for those really small hearing aids that hide easily. Those devices have the correct amount of power you need and are very precisely fine-tuned. You may need to upgrade to a more powerful device if your hearing gets worse.
How can you get the most out of your hearing aid?
We have to recognize that hearing aids are really personal things. In most circumstances, they are programmed specifically for your ears and will usually have custom molds. The investment is also considerable. So getting the most you can out of your hearing aids is the prevalent goal.
And this is a very achievable goal. Taking good care of your hearing aids is the most useful thing you can do to be sure that your hearing aids last as long as possible. Try to keep them dry and don’t drop them if possible. Obviously, doing the recommended cleaning and maintenance is essential.
You’ll normally be able to get a good five years out of your hearing aid. You may or may not get more than that. But ultimately, you will have to make a decision. You will probably, inevitably, want some of the features that modern hearing aids provide. So, give us a call to make an appointment for a hearing exam right away. We’ll help you find out which hearing aid is right for you.