If you’re still wearing your older hearing aids, they may be better than no hearing aids, but they also could be costing you in some ways. Hearing aid technology has progressed a lot in the past few years! Ten years ago many of the features of modern hearing aids weren’t even in development, going digital for instance.
If you’re considering upgrading your hearing aids, there are a number of things you’ll have to do to pick the best ones for your needs. First, you’ll have to get a hearing test to identify if your degree of hearing loss has changed. Once you recognize how much hearing loss you have, you can start to narrow down your choices. It’s probably time for an upgrade for the following reasons.
Hearing aid reliability
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have significant issues, like that irritating buzz you hear every now and then. What about when you get near a phone and your hearing aids start to feedback? Frequently, they will squeal with feedback for no distinct reason. Your feedback will be considerably decreased with newer models which have features that compensate for common issues.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume regulation was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Nowadays, hearing aids are loaded with much better technology.
- Background noise reduction: Feedback cancellation, noise filters, and directional microphones are a few of the many techniques used by contemporary hearing aids. Noise filters reduce undesired sound while directional microphones are made to focus on sound right in front of you. When your hearing aid isn’t correctly fitted, a whistling sound can occur which will be prevented by feedback nullification.
- Voice focus: Some hearing aids also provide voice focus, which helps the wearer to focus on the voices they choose to hear. The sound of the desired voice is detected and amplified by directionally set microphones. Voice focus can be useful in noisy settings or when the wearer is attempting to hear someone who is speaking softly.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids offer much better sound quality than older models. This is due to advances in digital signal processing, which allows hearing aids to more accurately duplicate sound. In addition, many hearing aids now provide features including multiple programs that can be tailored to different listening environments.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be synced to your hearing aid. This can be useful for streaming music or making phone calls.
Frequent battery replacement
When we’re thinking about upgrading your hearing aid, price is always a factor. The new technology isn’t inexpensive, but neither is wearing old, outdated hearing aids. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. If you are replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more often than that, the cost adds up.
Old hearing aids break down and need to go to the shop for repair more often. If you think of your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. It’s in for repair more than it’s in your ear and the repairs are not cheap.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Research demonstrates that people with neglected hearing loss will earn less. Doesn’t it seem sensible then, that better hearing aids would be a career asset? You’ll have an easier time hearing what clients, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You will follow instructions without wondering if you got it right and have important conversations without worrying about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And with better communication, you will have a better quality of life. You’ll be able to communicate with people again. Dive in and engage with the people around you.
You want a smaller hearing aid
What do you think about when you look in the mirror and see that outdated hearing aid? Clunky? Noticeable? OMG? Style and flexibility are some of the most significant reasons to replace those old hearing aids. Modern hearing aids come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can have one tucked into your ear so nobody will ever see it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
It’s time to consider upgrading your hearing aids if you’re not happy with the results you’re getting from your old set. The things that contemporary technology has allowed hearing aids to do wasn’t even possible before. Contact us today to talk about your options.
