How Often Should You Upgrade Your Hearing Aids?

When your hearing begins you go, you may find yourself relying on hearing aids to take in the sounds of the world around you. While your hearing aids will allow you to interact more confidently and understand conversations in quiet and noisy environments, they aren’t an end all be all solution.

Like most electronic devices, hearing aids tend to have a specific lifespan before they need to be replaced. With most hearing aids, you can expect them to last anywhere between three to seven years before requiring a replacement.

Reasons why you may need to upgrade your hearing aids

Along with the age and effectiveness of your hearing aids, there are additional reasons you may opt to upgrade your hearing aids.

Whistling Sounds

You rely on your hearing aids to help you take in your environment. Whether you’re relaxing in your home or enjoying an evening at your favorite restaurant, the last thing you want to deal with is a constant whistling noise coming from your hearing aids.

While a whistling noise may not immediately require a hearing aid upgrade, it could indicate that something is not right. If your hearing aids aren’t fitted correctly, or you have excessive ear wax in your ears, it could be causing the whistling noise.

However, if this isn’t the case, you may be dealing with faulty hearing aids that need to be replaced.

Age

If you’ve ever purchased a car, television, cellphone, or another form of technology, you know that what was once the hot new fad will eventually become outdated to new and improved technology. Likewise, hearing aids have new technology released each year that will eventually make your aging hearing aids feel a bit dated.

Hearing aids tend to have a maximum lifespan of five to seven years, you may want to consider replacing your hearing aids if they begin showing a decline in performance around year five. This will allow you to take advantage of the latest technology and enhance your hearing quality.

Damage

It’s normal for your hearing aids to display visible wear and tear signs after wearing them consistently for a few years. However, if they have any physical damage, such as cracks and chips in the casing or worn-out tubing, it may be impacting the overall comfort and fit of your hearing aids — which can also lead to worsened performance.

While your audiologist may repair minor physical problems, any major damage may require a complete replacement of the hearing aids for optimal results.

Hearing Condition

Hearing loss often occurs over an extended period, meaning that your hearing ability when you get your hearing aids might be very different a few years later. As a result, your hearing aids may not be able to provide enough amplification to make hearing the world around you easier.
Your audiologist will help you determine if a hearing aid upgrade is the best choice or if a simple reprogramming to a new frequency on your existing hearing aids will realign your hearing aids to match your hearing needs.

New Technology

Sometimes you may be in the market for a more upgraded option that will give you more customization and flexibility than your current hearing aids. Technology is constantly changing, and there are a variety of new hearing aid models that meet (and often exceed) many individuals’ desires.

From Bluetooth connectivity and feedback/wind suppression to Artificial Intelligence, upgrading your hearing aids can take your listening experience to the next level.

Contact El Dorado Hearing for a Hearing Aid Upgrade

If you need hearing aids or hearing-related services, you will want to come by El Dorado Hearing for a hearing aid fitting in Tucson. We are independent hearing aid providers, so we carry multiple hearing aids in different types and styles to help you find the perfect hearing aid upgrade. You are sure to find something which suits your budget and lifestyle.