If you’re still wearing your older hearing aids, they may be better than no hearing aids, but they also may be costing you in some ways. Within the last few years, hearing aid technology has made considerable progress. A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even on the drawing board, going digital for instance.
When you determine it’s time to upgrade, choosing the correct one will take some preparation. First, you’ll need to have a hearing test to determine if your degree of hearing loss has changed. Once you recognize how much hearing loss you have, you can start to get a clearer look at your options. Here are a few reasons why it’s most likely time to upgrade.
Hearing aid reliability
Every now and then you’ll get an irritating buzz or other issues with older or low-quality hearing aids. And, what about feedback anytime you get close to a phone? At times, they will squeal with feedback for no distinct reason. Your feedback will be considerably diminished with newer models which have features that compensate for common problems.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume regulation was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Hearing aids have much more technology and capability nowadays.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be synced to your hearing aid. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes simple with this.
- Background noise reduction: Contemporary hearing aids use a number of techniques to reduce background noise, and that includes directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback cancellation. Directional microphones center on the sound coming from the front of the user, while noise filters decrease undesirable sounds from all directions. Feedback cancellation helps to prevent the whistling sound that can manifest when hearing aids are not fitted properly.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the user can use a voice focusing feature that allows them to focus on particular voices they want to hear. The sound of the desired voice is picked up and amplified by directionally set microphones. Voice focus can be useful in noisy settings or when the user is trying to hear somebody who is talking softly.
- Improved sound quality: Older hearing aid models had much lower quality of sound than modern-day models. Signal processing has gone to digital, which reproduces and amplifies sound in a more precise way. Modern hearing aids also frequently offer custom programs that are preset for specific settings.
You have to replace the batteries – a lot
Price is always a consideration in terms of a hearing aid upgrade. You may think that updating your hearing aid will cost too much, but old antiquated hearing aids can be costly too. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. If you’re replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more frequently than that, the expense adds up.
Out-dated hearing aids break down and need to go to the shop for repair more frequently. If you think of your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. The costs of the constant repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Studies show that hearing loss can mean a lower paycheck. Naturally, your career would benefit from wearing better hearing aids. You’ll hear your boss and customers better. You won’t have to worry about whether you’ll miss significant information or instructions.
Clearly, better communication means a better quality of life, too. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower in the middle of discussions anymore. Get right back into being socially engaged.
You’re looking for something more discreet
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, what comes to mind? Clunky? Obvious? OMG? Flexibility and style are some of the most significant reasons to upgrade those outdated hearing aids. A number of shapes, styles, and sizes are available in contemporary hearing aids. You can have one nestled into your ear so nobody will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in a color you love.
It’s time to consider upgrading your hearing aids if you’re unhappy with the results you’re getting from your old set. Technology has come a long way in the last several years, and there are now hearing aids available that can do things that were never possible before. Get in touch with us for a consultation.