It’s difficult to be separated from your hearing aid once you get accustomed to having one. After all, your hearing aids are key to connect to your world. But it will periodically need to be updated or replaced just like all technology.
The Typical Hearing Aid Lifespan
So the normal hearing aid will last how long?3 to 5 years will be the normal lifespan of a typical hearing aid. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you need to have your hearing checked regularly to be certain your hearing aid is still the best choice for you. Technology is constantly advancing and some hearing aids wear out more quickly than others, assuming your hearing doesn’t change.
Factors That May Influence Your Hearing Aid Longevity
Because that’s only the average, right? Which means hearing aids may last a lot longer for many individuals. How long your hearing aids will last is determined by a number of considerations:
- Functionality: Technology is continuously changing, and hearing aids have been changing too. If you want your hearing aids to have the best sound, you might want to upgrade. This will also allow you to sync your device to your smartphone, television and other devices.
- How often you use your hearing aids: To a certain extent, the more often you use your hearing aid, the sooner you’ll need a replacement. But that’s not always the case, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long periods. It’s actually more accurate to say that if you turn the power on and off a lot, you will need to replace your hearing aid sooner.
- Your Hearing Changes: Those tiny, easy to hide devices are often the choice of adults who use hearing aids. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated and they have exactly the amount of power you require. You may need to switch to a more powerful hearing aid if your hearing gets worse.
- Frequent care and maintenance: In many ways, a hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology: the better you take care of it, the longer it’ll last. As per the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should always perform routine upkeep and also clean your hearing aids.
- Build quality: It’s costly to purchase hearing aids. But, as with most things in life, you commonly get what you pay for. Your hearing aid is likely to last longer if it is built better.
- The Hearing Aid’s Complexity: The more complex your hearing aid is, the more variables you have to contend with (meaning there’s more that can go wrong). Don’t get me wrong you might need that additional sophistication, and often, it ends up being worth it. But additional complex technology does present a breakability factor. Advanced hearing aids have become very wise about introducing more functionality via software rather than hardware, which is helpful.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last Longer
We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They might have custom molds and in many cases are programmed especially for your ears. Also, they are a considerable investment. So it’s a common objective to get the most out of your hearing aid.
And it’s one you can achieve. Really, the best thing you can do to make sure your hearing aids last as long as possible is to take care of them. Don’t get them wet or drop them. And be sure to do all the required upkeep and cleaning.
Your hearing aids should last a good five years. Whether you can get more than that is, generally, up to chance. But there comes a time when you have to make a choice. Inevitably, newer hearing aids offer features you will probably want. So, schedule an appointment for a hearing exam right away to find out which hearing aid is best for you.