Even if you love your current pair of hearing aids, there will come a time when you’ll have to get a new pair. Let’s take a look at a few signs you’re due for a hearing aid upgrade.
You’ve Experienced Some Big Life Changes
When you get fitted with hearing aids, your audiologist considers your lifestyle, including family life, job responsibilities and hobbies. They do this because all of these things can affect what you need from your hearing aids. If you’ve switched from working at home to working in a busy office or if you’ve started cycling or another outdoor hobby that requires better wind reduction technology, your hearing aids may need to change as well.
Your Health Has Changed
Certain health conditions require a change in hearing aids as well. For example, people with arthritis can find it very difficult to change the batteries on their hearing aids or make manual adjustments due to the small size. In this case, it may be wise to get new hearing aids that have larger battery doors and settings that adjust automatically. Additionally, you may want to consider rechargeable hearing aids that don’t require battery changes.
Your Hearing Aids Don’t Connect with Your Current Technology
Many newer hearing aids come with the ability to connect to your smartphone and other devices via Bluetooth®. This can make it easier to hear phone calls or follow along during video meetings. It also lets you stream your favorite music or podcast directly in your hearing aids when you’re doing chores around the house or going for an afternoon stroll at University Ridge Park. If these features are important for you to get the most from your hearing aids, consider an upgrade.
Your Hearing Needs Have Changed
Similar to your vision, it’s possible that your hearing loss changes over time and, therefore, requires certain adjustments in your treatment. If you feel as though your hearing loss has gotten worse or you’re struggling to hear in certain environments that you didn’t before, schedule an appointment with your audiologist to see if a change in settings or newer hearing aids can help.
Your Hearing Aids Are More Than Five Years Old
Pretty much all technology reaches a point where it begins to work less effectively, and hearing aids are no different. While proper care and maintenance can extend the lifespan of your device, most hearing aids last about five years, and the maximum recommended lifespan of any hearing aid is seven years.
Older hearing aids can start to malfunction, and you may experience issues with sound quality and battery drainage, among other issues.
Hearing aids provide users with a better quality of life, but in order for them to do that, they have to be working effectively. If your device is older or not providing the type of hearing you are used to, call the experts at LeMay Hearing & Balance to discuss your upgrade options today.