While it could be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, chances are what small advantage you get from them comes at a cost. Within the last few years, hearing aid technology has made considerable progress. A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even on the drawing board, going digital for instance.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your hearing aids, there are a number of things you’ll have to do to choose the right ones for your needs. First, you’ll need to have a hearing test to determine if your degree of hearing loss has changed. Once you recognize how much hearing loss you have, you can begin to narrow down your choices. Here are some reasons why it’s probably time for an upgrade.
Hearing aid reliability
Every once in a while you’ll get an irritating buzz or other issues with older or low-quality hearing aids. How about when you go next to a phone and your hearing aids begin to feedback? At times, they will squeal with feedback for no apparent reason. Newer designs compensate for prevalent issues so that you hear feedback less frequently.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume regulation was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Today, hearing aids are loaded with much better technology.
- Bluetooth capability: This feature lets hearing aids connect to other devices, including smartphones, TVs, and other smart devices. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes easy with this.
- Background noise reduction: Feedback nullification, noise filters, and directional microphones are a few of the many strategies used by modern hearing aids. Directional microphones center on the sound coming from the front of the user, while noise filters minimize unwanted noises from all directions. Feedback cancellation helps to counter the whistling sound that can manifest when hearing aids aren’t properly fitted.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids provide much higher sound quality than older models. Signal processing has gone to digital, which duplicates and amplifies sound in a more precise way. Modern hearing aids also frequently feature custom programs that are preset for specific environments.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the wearer can use a voice focusing function that lets them focus on particular voices they want to hear. The sound of the intended voice is picked up and amplified by directionally arranged microphones. When someone is speaking quietly or in a loud setting, voice focus can be quite helpful.
Frequent battery replacing
Price is always a consideration with regard to upgrading your hearing aids. You may think that upgrading your hearing aid will cost too much, but old outdated hearing aids can be expensive too. Analog devices require new batteries a lot. If you’re replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more often than that, the cost adds up.
Out-of-date hearing aids can potentially spend more time getting repaired, also. If you think of your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. The costs of the constant repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You’re not capable of hearing at work
Research demonstrates that individuals with neglected hearing loss will have a lower income. Obviously, your career would be improved by wearing better hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time hearing what clients, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You won’t have to be concerned about whether you will miss significant information or instructions.
Of course, better communication means an enhanced quality of life, also. You’ll be capable of communicating with people again. Dive in and connect with the people around you.
You’re looking for something more subtle
When you look in the mirror at your outdated hearing aid, what words come to mind? Clunky? Obvious? OMG? Some of the most considerable advantages that come with replacing old hearing aids are style and flexibility. Modern hearing aids come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You could either get one in your favorite color and make a fashion statement or get one small enough that it will go unobserved by others.
If you’re thinking about getting new hearing aids, or if you already have them but you’re not happy with the results, consider upgrading to a newer model. Technology has come a long way in the last several years, and there are now hearing aids available that can do things that were impossible in the past. Contact us for a consultation.
