How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?
If you have just received your new hearing aids, congratulations! You have taken an essential step toward improving your hearing, enjoyment of sound, and overall quality of life. The other benefits of hearing aids include improvements to your communication ability, relationships, and all aspects of health, including physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive functioning. These many benefits await those who receive and wear hearing aids regularly, so make sure to put them into practice as soon as possible. Now that you have your aids, you might be curious how long you can expect them to ask. The answer, as with so many things, is that it depends on many factors. However, a general rule of thumb is that hearing aids tend to last between four and six years before a person decides to get a new pair. Why do people choose to get new hearing aids at that time? The answers differ for each person, but there are a few common trends that explain why people decide to get new hearing aids. Let’s take a look at these reasons one by one, including what you can expect when it comes to your new aids.
Changes in Hearing Aid Technology
When you get your new hearing aids, they will be the state of the art for current assistive technology. However, hearing aid technology continues to improve quite rapidly. One of the crucial innovations in hearing aid technology is the use of digital signal processors, or DSPs. These features of hearing aids make it possible to not only raise the volume on the world but also to change that audio profile into something that serves your needs more completely. When you have hearing loss, it is likely that some sounds are more difficult to hear than others. In fact, you probably need more assistance in the range of human speech, and your two ears may have different abilities, as well. Digital signal processing works with your need to communicate and the combinatory effect between the two ears to closely replicate the sound of the world for a person with no hearing loss at all. Although DSPs have advanced quite a lot to the current state of the art, they will no doubt continue to improve with time. When you look at the features on hearing aids five years ago, you might be surprised how differently they functioned. In addition to improved audio quality, hearing aids continue to develop new features that are compatible with other technological changes in the world. For instance, the innovation and widespread adoption of Bluetooth connectivity made it possible for hearing aids to integrate with your other devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. With this integration in mind, you might imagine that tomorrow’s hearing aids will need to integrate with new technologies in other domains. These changes make it so that many people desire new hearing aids after the years go by, even when the old ones continue to function.
Repair Costs
Another main reason that some people choose to get new hearing aids is the cost of repairs. Most hearing aids are quite resilient to daily wear and tear, and repairs tend to be rare in the first years of use. However, the inevitable damage to hearing aids over time means that they might need to be repaired. Some of these repairs are quite affordable, and you can even get some repairs completed by our technicians in-house. Although some repairs are affordable, others might be more expensive, even approaching the cost of new aids. Just like a used car, you might need to weigh the difference between hearing aid repair costs and the benefits of new hearing aids. When the time comes, you might decide that putting a little more money into hearing aids is worth the investment in new technology, as well. With these considerations in mind, you can enjoy the benefits of your new hearing aids today, while keeping an eye on the changes that might make you consider new hearing aids down the road. With proper care and maintenance, you can look forward to years of faithful service for your hearing needs. If issues do arise, don’t hesitate to contact our offices for assistance.