Your hearing aids are vital pieces of technology that significantly benefit your quality of life. They are necessary tools in your day-to-day routines. Therefore, just like any other tool or technology that sustains that kind of heavy use—your smartphone, your car—your hearing aids will need an upgrade eventually. While they are durable, they don’t last forever. Let’s go over some common reasons why your hearing aids might be ready for an upgrade.
Advances in Technology
One reason people upgrade their hearing aids every five or so years is that technology advances so much in that time. Your cutting-edge hearing aids of five years ago could now seem rather basic when compared to the hearing aids of today. Many hearing aid users report a significantly better hearing experience every time they upgrade, simply because technology gets so much better year after year.
Wear and Tear
As mentioned, hearing aids are used heavily over their lifespan. The materials that make up hearing aids will age and weaken as they’re exposed to your daily routine and the elements. The digital components within the hearing aid will wear out due to working all day for years. This is all a natural part of having a well-loved tool, and it’s impossible to prevent normal wear and tear from happening. That said, you can extend the lifespan of your hearing aids by adhering to a regular cleaning routine and taking good care of them.
Water Damage
Water is public enemy number one for hearing aids. Even a small amount of moisture can cause damage. Water damage typically affects the electrical components, batteries and tubing. Unfortunately, water can be hard to avoid. Rainy days, humid weather, beach vacations and even sweat in the ear canal can all pose a danger to the functionality of your hearing aids. If you’ve gotten your hearing aids wet and noticed significant damage, it’s probably time to consider getting a new pair.
Your Ears Change
As your body ages, it changes. Your hearing loss will continue to develop as time goes on, and if your hearing needs change in such a way that your current set can’t accommodate you, it’s important to change to a set that can to ensure you’re getting the hearing help you need.
Additionally, it’s pretty common for the ear canals to change shape as we get older. In fact, studies show that everyday jaw movement, such as chewing or talking, can alter the shape of your ear canals and even lead to asymmetry between your left and right ear canals. As a result, your hearing aids—even those with custom-made earmolds made to precisely fit your ears—may not fit as well as they used to after some time. If your hearing aids have been falling out a lot more often or feel uncomfortable, it may be a sign that your ears have changed to such a point that a new fit is necessary.
Your Preferences Change
A hearing aid style you liked a few years ago may not suit you anymore, and that’s normal. Perhaps you want to change to a sleeker, more discreet style, or perhaps you want something that feels more secure and snug. Preferences change, and it’s okay to upgrade your hearing aids if you don’t like them anymore.
Your lifestyle may change as well in a way that is incompatible with your current hearing aids. For example, if you took up hiking or another active hobby, you’ll need a hearing aid that can stand a new active lifestyle, or if you got a new job in a noisier environment, you might need to up your background suppression capabilities.
Should You Upgrade Your Hearing Aids?
If any of the reasons above sound familiar to you, it might be time to consider an upgrade. If you want a second opinion, you can always call our team at SoundLogic to find out more, or to book an appointment for an upgraded hearing test or a regular maintenance appointment.