Once you adjust to using a hearing aid, it’s hard to be separated from it. 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 Typical Hearing Aid Lifespan
So the typical hearing aid will last how long?The average lifespan of a typical hearing aid will be between 3 and 5 years. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you should have your hearing checked regularly to be sure your hearing aid is still the best option for you. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models age more rapidly than others and technology is continuously changing.
Your Hearing Aid Longevity Might be Affected by These Factors
But that’s only the average life of a hearing aid. Which means there are lots of people who might have their hearing aids last much longer. How long your hearing aids will last is influenced by a number of considerations:
- Functionality: Technology is always changing, and hearing aids have been changing too. If you want your hearing aids to sync up with your smartphone, television, or other devices, or to just have the sharpest sound, you may want to upgrade.
- Build quality: It’s costly to buy hearing aids. But you usually get what you pay for, like with so many things. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid is likely to last.
- Your Hearing Changes: If you’re an adult and you use a hearing aid, you’ve most likely gone with one of those very tiny, easy to hide devices. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated and they have exactly the amount of power you require. So if your hearing gets worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you might need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
- Maintenance and regular care: In many ways, a hearing aid is like any other piece of technology: the better you take care of it, the longer it’ll last. As per the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should always perform regular upkeep and also clean your hearing aids.
- How frequently your hearing aids are used: So if you wear your hearing aid more frequently, you will to replace it sooner. But that’s not always true, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long durations. 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.
- Complexity of the hearing aid: A lot more can go wrong with your hearing aid if it’s more complex because there are more variables to contend with. Don’t get me wrong you might need that added sophistication, and often, it winds up being worth it. But added complex technology does present a breakability element. One thing that helps is that software improvements instead of hardware upgrades have been cleverly implemented for greater functionality in current day hearing aids.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last Longer
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They may have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed especially for you. They are also a significant investment. So getting the most value for your money getting your hearing aid to last as long as possible is a common goal.
And it’s an achievable one. Really, the best thing you can do to make certain your hearing aids last as long as possible is to care for them. Try not to get them wet or drop them. And be sure to do all the required upkeep and cleaning.
You’ll normally be able to get around five years from your hearing aid. Whether it’s possible to get more than that is, often, up to chance. But at some point when you have to make a choice. Ultimately, more modern hearing aids offer features you will probably want. So, in order to find out which hearing aid is the best one for you, schedule a hearing exam today.