It’s difficult to be without your hearing aid once you get used to having one. After all, your hearing aids are key to connect to your world. But just as any technology you use daily, it will occasionally need to be replaced or updated.

The Normal Lifespan of a Hearing Aid

So how long can you anticipate the normal hearing aid to last? The normal lifespan of a typical hearing aid will be anywhere from 3 to 5 years. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you should have your hearing tested periodically to make certain your hearing aid is still the best choice for you. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models wear out more quickly than others and technology is constantly changing.

Factors That Might Impact Your Hearing Aid Longevity

But that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. Which means hearing aids could last much longer for many people. How long your hearing aids will last is influenced by a number of factors:

• Your Hearing Changes: Those little, easy to hide devices are often the choice of adults who use hearing aids. Those devices have the exact amount of power you need and are very precisely calibrated. You may need to switch to a more powerful hearing aid if your hearing gets worse.
• Regular care and maintenance: A hearing aid is like all other technology in many ways: the better you care for it, the longer it will last. That’s why you should always clean your hearing aids and do regular upkeep just as as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Build quality: It’s costly to purchase hearing aids. But you normally get what you pay for, as with most things. Your hearing aid will probably last longer if it is built better.
• Capability: Hearing aids have been keeping up with constantly advancing technology. If you want your hearing aids to sync with your television, smartphone, or other devices, or to just have the clearest sound, you may want to upgrade.
• How often you use your hearing aids: So if you wear your hearing aid more frequently, you will to replace it sooner. But that’s not always the case, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long durations. Maybe a better way to say it is that the more often you cycle power settings (turn the device on and off), the sooner you could need to replace your hearing aid.
• Complexity of the hearing aid: A lot more can go wrong with your hearing aid if it’s more complex because there are more variables to contend with. Don’t get me wrong sometimes you need that additional complexity, and usually, it winds up being worth it. But added complex technology does introduce a breakability factor. Advanced hearing aids have gotten very clever about introducing more functionality using software rather than hardware, which does help.

Can You Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer?

We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. In many instances, they are programmed specifically for your ears and might have custom molds. Also, they are a significant investment. So it’s a common goal to get the most that you can from your hearing aid.

And it’s one you can achieve. Really, the best thing you can do to make certain your hearing aids last as long as possible is to care for them. Getting them wet or dropping them are things you should not do if possible. And all the required upkeep and cleaning are things you should never ignore.

You’ll normally be able to get around five years from your hearing aid. Whether it’s possible to get more than that is, generally, up to chance. But often times the ball’s in your court. Inevitably, you will likely want the new features offered by modern hearing aids. So, to determine what hearing aid is the best one for you, schedule a hearing exam right away.