How Often Should You Get New Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are life-changing and extremely valuable devices for many people who have hearing loss.

It’s important to know when it’s time to replace these complex pieces of technology so you can get the best hearing experience possible.

So, how often should you get new hearing aids?

Your hearing aids aren’t performing well

It’s normal for hearing aids to undergo general wear and tear throughout years of daily or frequent usage, similarly to individuals who wear glasses or contacts. They are naturally exposed to moisture and ear wax which begin to affect their functionality even if cared for properly.

Think of it like a car. When you purchase a new vehicle, everything works perfectly. But over time, it needs an oil change, brake replacement or a new headlight. Hearing aid technology is similar and it’s completely normal.

Once reaching near the end of their life, the devices fail to perform as well, pick up less sound or have a progressive problem that the user doesn’t notice – all of which makes it harder to hear.

Due to moisture, debris and general wear and tear exposure, the average life of a hearing aid is 5 years.

It’s important to have an annual assessment so your audiologist or hearing health professional can ensure the hearing devices are performing at their best and meeting the user’s hearing and lifestyle needs.

If the technology is no longer performing in a way that benefits your hearing, an audiologist or hearing health professional would typically recommend thinking about finding a new hearing aid model.

There are changes in your hearing or health

Everyone’s hearing changes over time just like their physical health does. It may not be an obvious difference that you notice right away, but one day you might realize that your hearing aids don’t seem to be working as well as they used to.

That’s another reason why it’s crucial to get your hearing tested annually. You might learn that your current devices merely aren’t strong enough to help you hear properly.

If hearing loss is age-related, it is a degenerative condition. Some health conditions can also impact hearing loss progression. For most individuals, their hearing aids can be adjusted to accommodate the decline in hearing. However, a stronger model may be needed in some cases.

But the good news is that there are all kinds of devices on the market that are designed for different types of hearing loss. Many are even powerful enough to treat severe-to-profound hearing loss.

That being said, as someone’s overall health changes, they might want to get hearing aids that are easier to use. Instead of dealing with small batteries and battery doors, you can opt for rechargeable hearing aids to make it easier to handle your hearing aids if you struggle with changes in vision or dexterity.

There are many other options that are well-suited to preferences and abilities of all types

Lifestyle changes

Life happens and as we age, experience new things or change the way we live, there are new needs or wants to be met. It can be as simple as finding new hobbies, getting a new phone, or even a new job!

Different hearing aid models offer various technology levels and depending on the listener’s communication needs, certain models are more suitable than others.

If you are spending more time outside hiking, gardening, biking or other activities, you might want hearing aids that are better at blocking out wind or handling various climates.

Maybe you want hearing aids that have great Bluetooth connectivity capabilities and can pair to your phone, TV or computer.

Perhaps your new job involves frequent meetings and social events. If your current hearing aid technology is meant for a quieter lifestyle, you may want to upgrade your hearing aids to a higher level of technology to better suit your new listening needs.

New hearing aid technology

Older hearing aids simply do not have the capabilities that new hearing aids do.

Many new devices use advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to create a better sound environment for users. The complex hearing aid chip is more reliable and capable of making complex decisions to improve speech understanding in noisy settings.

The technology offers improved hands-free phone calls, direct Bluetooth streaming between hearing aids and mobile devices and tablets, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries and much more.

Although some of these features aren’t brand new, the advanced capabilities are. Newer hearing aids can transform your listening experience and make your day-to-day easier.

If you are curious to try a new device, you might want to consider learning more about the new hearing aids available on the market.

Do you want to get new hearing aids?

If you are finding that your hearing aids aren’t performing as well as you’re accustomed to or would like to learn more about new hearing aid technology, the experienced and passionate hearing professionals at NexGen Hearing would love to help.

Aiming to provide excellent care so each patient can experience a better quality of life, NexGen Hearing offers free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings and sales.

To book an appointment at one of our 45+ clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, click here or call 1-877-606-6671.