It’s hard to be without your hearing aid once you get accustomed to wearing one. After all, your hearing aids are essential to connect to your world. But just as any technology you use every day, it will periodically need to be replaced or updated.
The Average Lifespan of a Hearing Aid
So how long can you anticipate the average hearing aid to keep working? 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 should have your hearing tested regularly to make certain your hearing aid is still the best option for you. Technology is continuously changing and some hearing aids wear out more quickly than others, assuming your hearing doesn’t change.
Your Hearing Aid Longevity May be Impacted by These Factors
But that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. Which means hearing aids may last a lot longer for many individuals. How long your hearing aids will last is influenced by a number of considerations:
- Build quality: It’s costly to purchase hearing aids. But you usually get what you pay for, as with most things. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid should last.
- Upkeep and regular care: A hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology in a lot of ways: it will last longer if you take better care of it. As per the manufacturer’s guidelines, you should always perform routine maintenance and also clean your hearing aids.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re an adult and you have a hearing aid, you’ve most likely gone with one of those very tiny, easy to hide devices. Those devices have the exact amount of power you need and are very precisely calibrated. So if your hearing becomes worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you might need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
- Capability: Hearing aids have been changing along with constantly changing technology. If you would like your hearing aids to sync with your television, smartphone, or other devices, or to just have the sharpest sound, you might want to upgrade.
- The Hearing Aid’s Complexity: A lot more can go wrong with your hearing aid if it’s more complex because there are more variables to contend with. However, you might need that added sophistication, and often, it ends up being worth it. But additional complex technology does present a breakability factor. Advanced hearing aids have become very clever about presenting more functionality via software rather than hardware, which does help.
- How frequently you use your hearing aids: So if you use your hearing aid more often, you will need a new one sooner. But modern hearing aids are designed to be used for long durations so that’s not always the case. Maybe a better way to say it is that the more often you cycle power settings (turn the device on and off), the sooner you may have to get a new hearing aid.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last Longer
We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They may have custom molds and in many cases are programmed specifically for you. They are also a significant investment. So getting the most bang for your buck getting your hearing aid to last as long as possible is a common goal.
And it’s one you can achieve. Taking good care of your hearing aids is the best thing you can do to make certain that your hearing aids last as long as possible. Dropping them or getting them wet are things you should never do if possible. And be sure to do all the necessary maintenance and cleaning.
You’ll normally be able to get around five years out of a hearing aid. It’s often up to chance whether you can make them last longer than this. But there comes a time when you have to make a choice. Inevitably, you will likely want the new features offered by modern hearing aids. So, to find out what hearing aid is best for you, schedule a hearing exam today.