You know it’s time to upgrade your hearing aid if you’re still using one of those old-school ear trumpets. When you wear conventional hearing aids, coming to that realization is more tricky. You got your hearing aids 10 years ago, and they still get the job done, right?
It’s possible that you are better off using obsolete hearing aids than having none, what’s the real cost? Hearing aid tech has advanced in the past several years. Some of the functions of contemporary hearing aids hadn’t even been designed a decade ago. For one thing, they’ve gone to digital from analog. Why should you be thinking about an upgrade? Here are some good reasons.
Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable
Outdated or even poor-quality hearing aids have serious issues like that aggravating buzz you hear every now and then. What about that feedback any time you get close to a phone, that’s enjoyable. Sometimes that shrill feedback comes from nowhere, too. Now why is this happening?
You’ve Become Desensitized to its Poor Quality
You’re now used to pondering why the sound of traffic is so loud or to sitting quietly while everybody else has stimulating discussions. Remember when your hearing aid kept cutting out when you were trying to hear your grandchild perform a song and you only heard some of what they were singing. You still clapped, though.
All of these are weaknesses linked to old hearing aids. Turning up the volume was the main goal in hearing aids ten years ago. Nowadays, hearing aids do magic tricks such as filtering out background noise, so no more noisy air conditioner.
The Old Ones Are Wasting Money
Cost is always an issue in relation to an upgrade. You will have to make a preliminary purchase with new hearing aids but old ones will also be expensive with time. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. You can imagine how costly it will be, replacing batteries at least once a day.
Repair costs can also soar with older hearing aids. If you think of your hearing aid like you think of a 1992 car you would get the point. Repairs are expensive and it’s constantly in the repair shop.
Smart Technology is a Thing Now
Most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth capabilities. You won’t get that in an analog device. 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.)
The Key to Everything is Communication
It has been found by research, that you could earn less money if you have hearing loss. Doesn’t it seem sensible then that newer hearing aids would be a career asset? You will be able to hear customers and your boss better. You will follow directions without being concerned whether you heard it right and have critical conversations without worrying about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.
And clearly you will have an improved quality of life if you have good communication skills. You won’t have to go sit alone while people are talking. Jump right in and get involved with the people around you.
You Only Want Your Hearing Aid to be More Stylish
When you check out your old hearing aid in the mirror, what words come to mind? Clunky? Totally obvious? Oh my god? Versatility and style are some of the most significant reasons to upgrade your hearing aid. Modern hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can have one tucked so tightly into your ear that nobody will even see it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
Signs That It’s Time
Now you recognize why a hearing aid upgrade is worthwhile, so it’s time to find out what makes a hearing aid outdated. Here are some telltale indications that the time has come:
- Your hearing has changed. You don’t hear as well as you used to even with the hearing aid in your ear.
- Your life has evolved, and your hearing aid has a hard time keeping up. Every time you need to talk on the phone, you have to remove it and background noise has become a big challenge.
- Your hearing aid randomly cuts out. You just can’t rely on it working when you need it most.
- It’s clear that you have an analog device. You need to go digital as soon as possible.
- Your ears feel heavy. Clunky, old technology weighs a lot.
- Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. That old technology takes up a lot of space, as well.
- You need to replace the batteries every day. Contemporary hearing aids are more energy efficient, and some come with rechargeable batteries.
It’s an easy choice. If you’ve had your hearing aids for seven years or more, it’s time to upgrade and hear better.