If you still have an old-fashioned ear trumpet in hand than plainly, it’s time to upgrade. Making that call when you have conventional hearing aids is trickier, however, so how does one know? You got your hearing aids 10 years ago, and they still get the job done, right?
Maybe you are better off having older hearing aids than not having one, what’s the real price? Hearing aid tech has progressed in the last few years. Some of the functions of modern hearing aids hadn’t even been designed a decade ago. For starters, they’ve gone from analog to digital. Consider some reasons why it’s time for you to be thinking about an upgrade.
Old Hearing Aids Are Unreliable
Outdated or even low-quality hearing aids have serious issues like that annoying buzz you hear every now and again. And it’s always a great time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid starts to feedback. That loud feedback occasionally happens for no apparent reason. What caused it now?
You’ve Become Used to Its Failings
You’ve become accustomed to wondering why the sound of traffic is so noisy or to sitting quietly while everyone else has engaging discussions. Do you remember that time when your hearing aid kept cutting out while you were attempting to hear your grandchild sing a song and you could only hear parts of what they were singing. Of course, you still clapped.
These are all weaknesses connected with old hearing aids. Ten years ago the emphasis was on raising the volume. Now, undesirable noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do lots of other truly amazing things.
The Old Ones Are Bleeding Money
Expenses are always an issue when considering an upgrade. Newer technology is not cheap, but neither is wearing an old, out-of-date hearing aid. Analog hearing aids need new batteries frequently. If you are replacing the batteries on a daily basis, or even more often than that, the costs add up.
Out of date hearings aids can potentially need repair, too. If you think of your hearing aid like you think of a 1992 car you would get the point. It’s in the shop more than it’s in your ear and repairs are not cheap.
Smart Technology is a Thing Now
Bluetooth capability is a newer technology that has revolutionized hearing aid capability. You won’t find that in an analog unit. Your tablet, phone, and even your computer can be connected, using Bluetooth, to your hearing digital aid.
Communication is The Key to Everything
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a reduced paycheck. Doesn’t it seem sensible then that newer hearing aids would be a career asset? You will be able to hear customers and your boss better. You will be capable of following directions without wondering if you got it right and have important discussions without worrying about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.
Of course, stronger communication means an improved quality of life, too. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower during discussions anymore. Don’t hesitate to get right in and engage with others.
You Really Want a More Stylish Looking Hearing Aid
How do you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror wearing that old hearing aid? Clunky? Totally obvious? Oh my god? One of the most substantial perks that come with replacing old hearing aids is versatility and design. Contemporary hearing aids come in a number of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can have one hidden so tight in your ear that no one will even notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
How to Recognize When it’s Time to Upgrade
Now you understand all the reasons why you should get a hearing aid upgrade, but not what you should specifically look for that says your device may end up being called an antique. The time has come and here are the indications:
- There are changes in your hearing. You don’t hear as good as you once did even with the hearing aid in your ear.
- Your life has changed, and your hearing aid has a difficult time keeping up. Whenever you have to use the phone, you have to remove it and background noise has become a big challenge.
- Your hearing aid intermittently quits working. You just can’t count on it functioning when you most need it.
- It’s clear that you have an analog hearing aid. Ouch, go digital right away.
- Your ears feel heavy. Awkward, old technology weighs more.
- Your hearing aid is all 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. Modern hearing aids are frequently rechargeable and are also more energy efficient.
It’s an easy choice. It’s time to replace your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.