If you are walking around with an old-fashioned ear trumpet at hand than obviously, it’s time to upgrade. Coming to that realization when you have conventional hearing aids is trickier, though, so how does one know? You purchased your hearing aids a decade ago, and they still do the job, right?
While it might be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what little advantage you get from them comes at a cost. In the past few years, hearing aids have advanced significantly. Some of the functions of contemporary hearing aids hadn’t even been designed a decade ago. For starters, they’ve advanced from analog to digital. Why should you be considering an upgrade? Here are a few good reasons.
The Old Hearing Aid is Not That Reliable
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have real issues like that aggravating buzz you hear every once in a while. And it’s always a good time when you get close to a phone and your hearing aid starts to feedback. That loud feedback occasionally happens for no noticeable reason. What caused it this time?
You’ve Gotten Complacent With Its Failings
You are used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you engages in conversation or wondering why the air conditioning unit is so noisy. Do you remember that time when your hearing aid wouldn’t stop cutting out when you were attempting to listen to your grandson perform a song and you could only hear some of what they were singing. You still clapped, though.
All of these are failings linked to outdated hearing aids. Raising the volume was the main objective in hearing aids ten years ago. Nowadays, undesirable noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do many other really awesome things.
Outdated Hearing Aids Will Cost You More Money
Cost is always a factor when considering an upgrade. The new technology is not cheap, but neither is wearing an old, obsolete hearing aid. Analog hearing aids need new batteries a lot. You can imagine how costly it will be, buying new batteries at least once a day.
Repair costs can also soar with out dated hearing aids. If you picture your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you’ll get the point. It’s in the shop more than it is in your ear and repairs are not cheap.
Today, we Have Smart Technology
Bluetooth connectivity is a newer technology that has transformed hearing aid functionality. An analog hearing aid won’t come with that feature. Having Bluetooth built into your digital hearing aid means that it’s compatible with your computer, your phone, possibly even your television (unless they’re ten years old, too.)
The Key to Everything is Communication
Studies reveal that hearing loss can lead to a reduced paycheck. Doesn’t it make sense then that newer hearing aids would be a career asset? It will be easier to hear what customers and your boss are saying. You won’t need to be concerned about missing some key information or if your hearing aid battery will quit when you need it most.
Of course, better communication means a better quality of life, also. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower in the middle of conversations anymore. Feel free to get right in and connect with others.
You Really Want a Sleeker Looking Hearing Aid
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, what words come to mind? Clunky? Totally obvious? Oh my god? Flexibility and style are some of the most significant reasons to replace your hearing aid. You can buy hearing aids in lots of colors, sizes, and shapes now. You can wear a visible one in your favorite color or a discrete one tucked invisibly inside your ear.
Signs That It’s Time
Now you understand all the reasons why you should want a hearing aid upgrade, but not what to specifically look for that says your device may end up being called an antique. 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 place.
- Your life has evolved, and your hearing aid has a hard time keeping up. It’s a chore to take it out just to use the phone, or perhaps you got a new job and now have to cope with more background noise.
- Your hearing aid keeps quitting. You just can’t count on it working when you most need it.
- You know for a fact your hearing aid is analog. Ouch, go digital right away.
- Your ears feel weighted down. Analog hearing aids weigh a lot.
- Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. That old technology takes up a lot of space, too.
- You constantly need to switch out the batteries. Contemporary hearing aids are more energy efficient, and some are rechargeable.
It’s an easy choice. If you’ve had your hearing aids for seven years or more, it’s time to upgrade and hear better.
