It’s difficult to be separated from your hearing aid after you get used to using one. Your hearing aids are, after all, your connection to the world around you. But just like any 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 regular hearing tests to make sure your current hearing aid is still the best solution for your hearing requirements, and the 3 to 7 year lifespan isn’t etched in stone. As your hearing changes, your current hearing aid might not be the ideal solution anymore and with continually developing technology, some hearing aids will have to be upgraded sooner than others.
There are other factors that will impact the lifespan of your hearing aids
So, that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. So hearing might last a lot longer for some individuals. How long your hearing aids will last is determined by a number of factors:
- Build quality: It can be expensive to invest in hearing aids. But, as with most things in life, you generally get what you pay for. Your hearing aid will be longer lasting if it has more robust construction.
- Changes to your hearing: Most grownups pick out those really small hearing aids that conceal easily. That style of hearing aid can be really precisely fine-tuned and will have just the right amount of power you need. You might need to switch to a more powerful device if your hearing gets worse.
- How frequently your hearing aids are used: So if you use your hearing aid more frequently, you will need to get a new one sooner. Having said that, modern hearing aids are made to last. Actually, it may be more correct to say that the more times you turn on and off the device, the sooner it will need replacing.
- Functionality: Technology is constantly advancing and hearing aids are keeping pace with those changes. You might want to upgrade your hearing aid if you want the clearest sound or if you want to connect with you your smart-devices like your phone or TV.
- Proper care & maintenance: A hearing aid is similar to most other pieces of technology in a lot of ways so it should have a longer life if you maintain it better. So, keeping your hearing aid clean and doing frequent maintenance as the manufacturer recommends is something you should always do.
How can you get longer life out of your hearing aid?
We have to understand that hearing aids are rather personal things. In most cases, they are tuned specifically for your hearing and will usually have custom molds. The investment is also substantial. So getting the most you can out of your hearing aids is the prevalent goal.
And it’s one you can accomplish. The most practical thing you can do if you want your hearing aid to last is take good care of it. Try to keep them dry and don’t drop them if possible. And be certain you do all the required cleaning and maintenance.
You’ll usually be able to get a good five years from your hearing aid. Whether you can get more than that is, mostly, up to chance. But ultimately, you will have to decide. Inevitably, more modern hearing aids offer features you will most likely want. We can help you determine the right hearing aid for you, so call us right away for an assessment.