You know it’s time to upgrade your hearing aid if you’re walking around with one of those old-school ear trumpets. When you use conventional hearing aids, making that call is more difficult. Your decade old hearing aids still work, right?
While it might be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, it’s likely that what little benefit you get from using them comes at a price. Hearing aid technology has advanced in the last several years. Some of the functions of modern-day hearing aids hadn’t even been designed 10 years ago. For one thing, they’ve advanced from analog to digital. Start thinking about some reasons why you should be considering an upgrade.
Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have real problems like that irritating buzz you hear every now and again. What about that feedback every time you get near a phone, that’s enjoyable. That deafening feedback sometimes happens for no noticeable reason. Now why is it feeding back?
You’ve Become Complacent With Its Failings
You are used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you is involved in conversation or questioning why the air conditioning unit is so loud. Remember that time when your hearing aid kept cutting out when you were attempting to listen to your grandchild sing a song and you could only hear parts of what they were singing. But you still clapped.
These are all drawbacks associated with old hearing aids. Ten years ago the emphasis was on turning up the volume. Today, hearing aids perform magic tricks like filtering out background noise, so no more noisy air conditioner.
Old Hearing Aids Can be Expensive
Expenses are always an issue when considering an upgrade. You will need to make an initial purchase with new hearing aids but old ones will also be expensive over time. Analog hearing aids require new batteries frequently. If you are purchasing new batteries every single day, or even more than once a day, the costs can get very high.
Repair costs can also escalate with out dated hearing aids. If you think of your hearing aid like you think of a 1992 car you would get the point. It’s in the shop more than it’s in your ear and repairs expensive.
Smart Tech is a Thing Now
Many modern hearing aids come with Bluetooth functionality. An analog device won’t come with that feature. Having Bluetooth integrated into your digital hearing aid means that it’s compatible with your phone, your computer, possibly even your television (unless they’re a decade old, too.)
Communication is The Key to Everything
It has been found by research, that you may earn less money if you have hearing loss. So it’s apparent that it would be an asset to your career if you had better hearing aids. It will be easier to hear what your boss and customers are saying. You won’t need to be concerned about missing some crucial information or if your hearing aid battery will die when you need it most.
And clearly you will have a better quality of life if you have strong communication skills. You won’t have to go sit by yourself while people are having conversations. Feel free to get right in and engage with others.
You Really Want a Sleeker Looking Hearing Aid
How do you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror with that old hearing aid? Embarrassing? Totally obvious? Oh my god? Versatility and style are some of the most considerable reasons to upgrade your hearing aid. Contemporary hearing aids come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. You can have one hidden so tight into your ear that nobody will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
Signs That It’s Time
Now you know all the reasons why you should get a hearing aid upgrade, but not what you should specifically look for that says your device is at risk of being called an antique. Here are some telling signs that the time has come:
- There are changes in your hearing. Even when you have your hearing aids in, it seems as if you can’t hear as well.
- Your outdated hearing aid just can’t keep up with your changing life. Every time you need to talk on the phone, you have to remove it and background noise has become a big problem.
- Your hearing aid intermittently quits working. It’s just not dependable anymore, and that’s an issue.
- You know for a fact that your hearing aid is analog. Ouch, go digital fast.
- Your hearing aid is heavy. Analog hearing aids weigh more.
- Your hearing aid is all you see when you look in a mirror. That old technology occupies a lot of space, also.
- You constantly need to switch out the batteries. Modern hearing aids are frequently rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It isn’t brain surgery. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.
