You know it’s time to replace your hearing aid if you’re walking around with one of those old-fashioned ear trumpets. When you use conventional hearing aids, coming to that realization is more challenging. Your ten year old hearing aids still function, right?
While it may be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what little advantage you get from them comes at a cost. In the last several years, hearing aids have dramatically advanced. Some of the functions of modern hearing aids hadn’t even been invented a decade ago. For starters, they’ve gone from analog to digital. Why should you be contemplating an upgrade? Here are some good reasons.
Old Hearing Aids Are Unreliable
Cheaper or older hearing aids frequently have an irritating buzzing sound. And it’s always a great time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid starts to feedback. At times that high pitched feedback comes out of nowhere, too. What caused it now?
You’ve Become Used to Its Failings
You are used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you engages in conversation or wondering why the air conditioning unit is so noisy. Don’t forget the time your grandchild performed a beautiful song for you, but you only heard parts of what she sang because your hearing aids kept cutting out. Of course, you still clapped.
These are all drawbacks linked to old hearing aids. Raising the volume was the primary objective in hearing aids ten years ago. Now, unwanted noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do lots of other truly amazing things.
The Old Ones Are Bleeding Money
Expenses are always a factor in relation to an upgrade. You will have to make a preliminary investment with new hearing aids but older ones will also be expensive with time. Analog devices require new batteries a lot. If you are replacing the batteries every single day, or even more often than that, the costs can get very high.
Repair costs can also escalate with out dated hearing aids. If you picture your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you’ll get the idea. Repairs are expensive and it’s always in the repair shop.
Smart Tech is a Thing Now
Bluetooth connectivity is a newer technology that has revolutionized hearing aid capability. You won’t get that in an analog unit. Your phone, tablet, and even your computer can be connected, via Bluetooth, to your hearing digital aid.
The Secret to Everything is Communication
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a lower paycheck. So it’s clear that it would be an asset to your career if you had better hearing aids. You will hear your boss and customers better. You won’t have to stress out about missing some key information or if your hearing aid battery will die when you need it most.
Obviously, stronger communication means an improved quality of life, as well. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower in the middle of conversations anymore. Jump right in and engage with the people around you.
You Only Want Your Hearing Aid to be Cooler
What do you think when you check yourself out in the mirror with that old hearing aid? Awkward? Obvious? Does this make me look old? One of the most considerable advantages that come with replacing old hearing aids is flexibility and style. Today’s hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can wear a visible one in your favorite color or a discrete one tucked invisibly inside your ear.
Indications That It’s Time
Now you understand all the reasons you should get a hearing aid upgrade, but not what to specifically look for that says your device is at risk of being called an antique. The time has come and here are the signs:
- There are changes in your hearing. You don’t hear as good as you used to even with the hearing aid in your ear.
- Your old hearing aid just can’t keep up with your changing life. It’s a chore to take it out just to use the phone, or maybe you got a new job and now have to deal with more background noise.
- Your hearing aid keeps cutting out. You really can’t rely on it functioning when you most need it.
- You know for a fact that your hearing aid is analog. You ought to go digital as soon as possible.
- Your ears feel weighted down. Analog hearing aids weigh more.
- Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. Back when that old hearing aid was new, technology was a lot larger.
- You constantly need to change the batteries. Modern hearing aids are often rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It isn’t rocket science. If you’ve had your hearing aids for more than seven years, it’s time to trade up and hear better.
