If you are walking around with an old-fashioned ear trumpet at hand than obviously, it’s time for an upgrade. When you wear conventional hearing aids, coming to that realization is more difficult. You bought your hearing aids 10 years ago, and they still do the job, 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 them comes at a cost. Hearing aid technology has advanced in the past several years. It’s advanced from analog to digital, for one thing, and there are features now that weren’t even in the design phase a decade ago. Consider some reasons why you should be thinking about an upgrade.
The Old One Isn’t That Reliable
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have real problems like that irritating buzz you hear every now and then. And it’s always a great time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid starts to feedback. That loud feedback sometimes occurs for no obvious reason. Now why is it feeding back?
You’ve Become Complacent With Its Failings
You’re used to going to a quiet place while everyone around you participates in conversation or questioning why the air conditioner is so noisy. Remember the time your grandchild sang you a great song she learned at school, but you only heard every other word because your hearing aids kept cutting out. You still clapped, though.
These are all weaknesses associated with old hearing aids. Raising the volume was the primary 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
When you’re thinking about a hearing aid upgrade, cost is a big factor. The new tech is not cheap, but neither is using an old, obsolete hearing aid. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. If you are buying new batteries every single day, or even more than once a day, the costs add up.
Repair costs can also escalate with older hearing aids. If you picture your hearing aid like a 1992 Buick, you’ll get the point. Repairs are expensive and it’s constantly in the repair shop.
Smart Technology is a Thing Now
Bluetooth connectivity is a newer technology that has transformed hearing aid capability. You won’t get that in an analog unit. Your tablet, phone, and even your computer can be connected, via Bluetooth, to your hearing digital aid.
The Secret to Everything is Communication
It has been revealed by research, that you will earn less money if you have hearing loss. So it’s clear that it would be an asset to your career if you had better hearing aids. You will hear your boss and customers better. You will follow directions without wondering if you got it right and have important conversations without worrying about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.
Obviously, stronger communication means a better quality of life, too. You won’t have to go sit alone while people are talking. Don’t hesitate to get right in and engage with others.
You Really Want a Sleeker Looking Hearing Aid
When you check out your old hearing aid in the mirror, how do you feel? Awkward? Obvious? Does this make me look old? Versatility and style are some of the most considerable reasons to update your hearing aid. You can get hearing aids in many colors, sizes, and shapes now. You can have one tucked so tight into your ear that nobody will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with an out of the ear hearing aid in your favorite color.
How to Know When it’s Time to Upgrade
Now you see why a hearing aid upgrade is worthwhile, so it’s time to learn what makes a hearing aid obsolete. Here are a few telltale signs that the time has come:
- There are changes in your hearing. Even when you have your hearing aids in your ears, it seems as if you can’t hear as well.
- Your life has evolved, and your hearing aid has a difficult time keeping up. It’s a pain to take it out just to use the phone, or maybe you’ve changed jobs and now have to cope with more background noise.
- Your hearing aid intermittently cuts out. It’s simply not reliable anymore, and that’s problematic.
- It’s clear that you have an analog device. You ought to go digital as soon as you can.
- Your ears feel weighted down. Analog hearing aids weigh a lot.
- Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. That obsolete technology takes up a lot of space, as well.
- You are replacing the batteries every day. Contemporary hearing aids are frequently rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It’s not brain surgery. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.