It’s hard to be apart from your hearing aid once you get used to having one. Your hearing aids are, after all, your link to the world around you. But just like any technology, though, it will have to be upgraded eventually.
The typical lifespan of a hearing aid
From 3 to 7 years will be the typical lifespan of a hearing aid. You will need to get regular hearing assessments to be certain your current hearing aid is still the best solution for your hearing requirements, and the 3 to 7 year lifespan isn’t etched in stone. As your hearing changes, your current hearing aid may not be the ideal solution anymore and with continually advancing technology, some hearing aids will need to be upgraded sooner than others.
Your hearing aid longevity may be affected by these factors
So, that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. So hearing may last a lot longer for some people. How long your hearing aids will last is based on a number of factors:
- Proper care & maintenance: A hearing aid is similar to most other types of technology in many ways so it should have a longer life if you maintain it better. So, cleaning your hearing aid and doing frequent maintenance according to the manufacturer’s advice is something you should always do.
- Build quality: It can be expensive to purchase hearing aids. But, you typically get what you pay for, like with anything in life. The more robust the construction quality, the longer your hearing aid should last.
- How often your hearing aids are worn: So if you use your hearing aid more often, you will need a new one sooner. That said, modern hearing aids are built to last. Actually, it might be more correct to say that the more times you turn the device on and off, the sooner it will need replacing.
- Functionality: Technology is constantly changing and hearing aids are keeping pace with those changes. You may want to upgrade your hearing aid if you want the sharpest sound or if you want to sync with you your smart-devices like your phone or TV.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re a grownup and you wear a hearing aid, you’ve most likely selected one of those very small, easy to hide devices. That type of hearing aid can be very precisely fine-tuned and will have exactly the right amount of power you need. If your hearing loss worsens, you may need to upgrade to a more powerful model.
Can you make your hearing aids last longer?
We have to understand that hearing aids are really personal things. In most situations, they are tuned specifically for your ears and will likely have custom molds. The investment is also considerable. So it’s a common goal to get the most that you can from your hearing aid.
And this is a very achievable goal. 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 they can. Try not to get them wet or drop them. And be certain you do all the recommended cleaning and maintenance.
Your hearing aid will usually work well for at least five years. Whether you can get more than that is, mostly, up to chance. But eventually, you will have to decide. You will most likely, inevitably, want some of the features that modern hearing aids offer. We can help you determine the best hearing aid for you, so call us right away for an evaluation.