If you still have an old-fashioned ear trumpet at hand than plainly, it’s time to upgrade. Making that call when you have conventional hearing aids is trickier, however, so how do you know? You bought your hearing aids a decade ago, and they still do the job, right?
While it might be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, chances are what little advantage you get from them comes at a price. Hearing aid tech has advanced in the last few years. Some of the functions of modern hearing aids hadn’t even been invented a decade ago. For starters, they’ve advanced from analog to digital. Consider some reasons why it’s time for you to be considering an upgrade.
Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable
Lower quality or older hearing aids often have an aggravating buzzing sound. What about that feedback whenever you get close to a phone, that’s a lot of fun. At times that shrill feedback comes out of nowhere, too. Now why is this happening?
You’ve Become Complacent With Its Failings
You’re now used to pondering why the sound of traffic is so noisy or to going off quietly while everyone else has engaging conversation. Recall 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 drawbacks linked to old hearing aids. Ten years ago the attention was on turning up the volume. These days, hearing aids perform magic tricks such as filtering out background noise, so say goodbye to the air conditioner.
The Old Ones Are Bleeding Money
When you’re considering a hearing aid upgrade, cost is a major consideration. You will need to make an initial investment with new hearing aids but older ones will also be expensive with time. You will be continually buying new batteries when you have an analog hearing aid. If you are buying new batteries every single day, or even more often than that, the costs can get very high.
Old hearings aids can potentially spend more time at the shop, also. If you think of your hearing aid like you think of a 1992 car you would understand where we are coming from. It’s in the repair shop more than it is in your ear and repairs are not cheap.
Nowadays, we Have Smart Technology
Most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth functionality. An analog device won’t come with that feature. Having Bluetooth integrated into your digital hearing aid means it connects to your phone, your computer, possibly even your tv (unless they’re ten years old, as well.)
The Key to Everything is Communication
Studies show that hearing loss can mean a lower paycheck. Doesn’t it make sense then that newer hearing aids would be a career asset? You will hear customers and your boss better. You won’t need to worry about missing some key piece of information or if your hearing aid battery will die when you need it most.
And clearly you will have an improved quality of life if you have good communication skills. You won’t need to go sit by yourself when people are having conversations. Jump in and engage with the people around you.
You Really Want a More Stylish Looking Hearing Aid
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, how do you feel? Awkward? Totally obvious? Does this make me look old? Versatility and style are some of the most significant reasons to replace your hearing aid. You can get hearing aids in many colors, shapes, and sizes now. You can have one hidden so tightly in your ear that no one will even notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with an out of the ear hearing aid in your favorite color.
Clues That It’s Time
Now you understand all the reasons you should get a hearing aid upgrade, but not what you should specifically look for that says your device is at risk of being called an antique. 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, it seems as if you can’t hear as well.
- Your old hearing aid just can’t keep up with your changing life. Whenever you have to talk on the phone, you have to take it out and background noise has become a real issue.
- Your hearing aid intermittently quits working. It’s just not dependable anymore, and that’s an issue.
- It’s obvious 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 all you see when you look in a mirror. That obsolete technology occupies a lot of space, also.
- You constantly have to change the batteries. Modern hearing aids are usually rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It isn’t rocket science. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.