If you still have an old-school ear trumpet at hand than clearly, it’s time for an upgrade. When you use conventional hearing aids, making that call is more challenging. Your decade old hearing aids still work, right?
While it could be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what little benefit you get from using them comes at a price. Hearing aid technology has progressed in the past few years. It’s gone from analog to digital, for one thing, and there are features now that weren’t even invented 10 years ago. Think about some reasons why you should be thinking about an upgrade.
Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable
Lower quality or older hearing aids often have an aggravating buzzing noise. And it’s always a good time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid begins to feedback. At times that shrill feedback comes out of nowhere, too. What caused it this time?
You’ve Become Desensitized to its Poor Quality
You’re used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you participates in conversation or questioning why the air conditioning unit is so loud. Recall the time your grandchild sang you a great song she learned at school, but you only heard parts of what she sang because your hearing aids kept cutting out. You still clapped, though.
These are all weaknesses associated with outdated hearing aids. Ten years ago the focus was on raising the volume. Nowadays, unwelcome noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do many other really amazing things.
Outdated Hearing Aids Can be Expensive
When you’re considering upgrading your hearing aid, expense is a big factor. You will need to make a preliminary purchase with new hearing aids but old ones will also be costly with time. You will be continually buying new batteries with an analog hearing aid. If you are replacing the batteries every single day, or even more than once a day, the costs add up.
Repair costs can also be very high with older hearing aids. If you picture your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you’ll get the idea. It’s in the repair shop more than it’s in your ear and repairs expensive.
Nowadays, we Have Smart Technology
Most contemporary hearing aids come with Bluetooth functionality. You won’t get that in an analog device. Having Bluetooth built into your digital hearing aid means that it’s compatible with your phone, your computer, possibly even your television (unless they’re a decade old, as well.)
Communication is The Key to Everything
It has been found by research, that you could earn less money if you suffer from hearing loss. So it’s clear that it would be an asset to your career if you had better hearing aids. It will be easier to hear what your boss and customers are saying. You will be capable of following directions without being concerned whether you heard it right and have critical discussions without worrying about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And obviously you will have a better quality of life if you have strong communication skills. You don’t need to sit like a wallflower in the middle of discussions anymore. Jump in and get involved with the people around you.
You Really Want a More Stylish Looking Hearing Aid
What do you think when you check yourself out in the mirror with that old hearing aid? Embarrassing? Obvious? Does this make me look old? Versatility and style are some of the most significant reasons to replace your hearing aid. Today’s hearing aids come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. You can wear a visible one in your favorite color or an internal one tucked invisibly inside your ear.
How to Know When it’s Time to Upgrade
Now you recognize why a hearing aid upgrade is necessary, now it’s time to determine what makes a hearing aid outdated. 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 evolved, and your hearing aid has a difficult time keeping up. Whenever you need to use the phone, you have to take it out and background noise has become a real problem.
- Your hearing aid keeps quitting. You really can’t count on it functioning when you need it most.
- You know for sure that your hearing aid is analog. Ouch, go digital right away.
- Your hearing aid is heavy. Analog hearing aids weigh a lot.
- Your hearing aid juts out like a sore thumb. That obsolete technology occupies a lot of space, too.
- You need to replace the batteries every day. Contemporary hearing aids are more energy efficient, and many come with rechargeable batteries.
It’s an easy choice. It’s time to upgrade your hearing aids if they’re more than 7 years old.