How do I know it’s time to update my hearing aids?

Hearing aids, like everything else, have a finite lifespan. But there’s more to it than that.

Hearing aids can last anywhere from three years to seven — for some people, even longer. Variables affecting this lifespan include how well the instrument is built, how well it’s maintained, and how much wear and tear it experiences being worn in your ear for many hours a day.

Naturally, when a hearing instrument stops working reliably, you could be a candidate for new hearing aids, or at least a significant repair. But there are other reasons you may want to make an appointment with your hearing care professional and consider an upgrade, even if things are working fine. 

Here are a few:

Today’s advanced hearing aids are more fun, too. They can connect easily to all the new electronic devices around you — TVs, computers, smartphones, audio equipment and more. And there are more options than ever for size and fit: more colors, completely invisible devices, and newer, more comfortable external hearing aids.

In short, it pays to keep up to date with advances in hearing technology, regardless of how well your current hearing aids are performing. Next time you visit your hearing care professional for new batteries or other services, try asking, “What’s new?” 

You may be amazed at what you find.