It’s tough to be apart from your hearing aid after you get accustomed to using one. After all, your hearing aids are essential to connect to your world. But just like all technology, though, it will have to be upgraded eventually.
The normal lifespan of a hearing aid
A hearing aid will usually last 3 to 7 years. You will need to get routine hearing assessments to be certain your current hearing aid is still the best option for your hearing requirements, and the 3 to 7 year lifespan isn’t etched in stone. Technology is constantly improving and some hearing aids need replacing more rapidly than others so it’s good to be open to other options should your hearing change.
Your hearing aid longevity might be affected by these factors
So, that’s just the typical life of a hearing aid. Meaning that there are plenty of individuals who might see their hearing aids last much longer. How long your hearing aids will last is based on a number of considerations:
- Proper care & maintenance: Like any piece of technology, it will have a longer life the better you care for it. So, keeping your hearing aid clean and doing frequent maintenance as the manufacturer recommends is something you should always do.
- Functionality: Technology is constantly changing and hearing aids are keeping pace with those changes. You may want to upgrade your hearing aid if you want the sharpest sound or if you want to connect with you your smart-devices including your phone or TV.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re a grownup and you wear a hearing aid, you’ve probably decided on one of those very small, easy to conceal devices. Those devices have the right amount of power you require and are very precisely fine-tuned. If your hearing loss worsens, you may need to upgrade to a more powerful model.
- Build quality: Buying hearing aids can be a bit costly. But, you usually get what you pay for, like with most things in life. The more robust the construction quality, the longer your hearing aid will last.
- How often your hearing aids are used: So if you use your hearing aid more often, you will need a new one sooner. But that isn’t always the situation, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long durations. Perhaps, a better way to say it is that the more often you cycle power settings (turn the device on and off), the sooner you might need to invest in a new hearing aid.
Can you make your hearing aids last longer?
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. In most circumstances, they are programmed specifically for your hearing and will usually have custom molds. The investment is also considerable. So it’s a prevailing goal to get the most that you can from your hearing aid.
And it’s one you can accomplish. Taking good care of your hearing aids is the best thing you can do to be sure that your hearing aids last as long as possible. Try not to let them get wet and don’t drop them if you can help it. And make sure you do all the recommended cleaning and maintenance.
Your hearing aid will typically work well for at least five years. Whether you can get more than that is, generally, up to chance. But eventually, you will have to decide. You will probably, inevitably, want some of the features that modern hearing aids offer. So, contact us to make an appointment for a hearing exam right away. We’ll help you determine which hearing aid is best for you.