Once you adjust to wearing a hearing aid, it’s hard to be separated from it. After all, your hearing aids are essential to connect to your world. But it will periodically need to be updated or replaced just like all technology.
The Normal Hearing Aid Lifespan
So how long can you expect the normal hearing aid to last? 3 to 5 years will be the average lifespan of a typical hearing aid. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you should have your hearing examined regularly to be certain 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 May be Affected by These Variables
But that’s only the average life of a hearing aid. Which means hearing aids might last a lot longer for many people. Here are a few factors that will define how long your hearing aids will last:
- Capability: Hearing aids have been changing along with constantly advancing technology. If you would like your hearing aids to sync with your smartphone, television, or other devices, or to just have the best sound, you may want to upgrade.
- How frequently your hearing aids are used: To a certain extent, the more often you use your hearing aid, the sooner you’ll need a replacement. But modern hearing aids are manufactured to be used for long durations so that’s not always the case. It’s actually more valid to say that if you turn the power on and off a lot, you will have to replace your hearing aid sooner.
- Frequent care and upkeep: In a variety of ways, a hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology: it will last longer if you take better care of it. As per the manufacturer’s recommendations, you should always do regular maintenance and also clean your hearing aids.
- Your Hearing Changes: Those small, easy to hide devices are often the choice of adults who use hearing aids. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated and they have exactly the amount of power you need. So if your hearing becomes worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you may need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
- Build quality: It’s costly to purchase hearing aids. But you usually get what you pay for, like with so many things. Your hearing aid will probably last longer if it is built better.
- Complexity of the hearing aid: The more complex your hearing aid is, the more variables you have to contend with (meaning there’s more that can go wrong). However, sometimes you need that added complexity, and often, it winds up being worth it. But additional complex technology does introduce a breakability element. One thing that is helpful is that software improvements instead of hardware upgrades have been cleverly implemented for better functionality in modern hearing aids.
Can You Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer?
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They might have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed especially for you. They are also a significant investment. So getting the most bang for your buck getting your hearing aid to last as long as possible is a prevailing goal.
And it’s an achievable one. Taking good care of your hearing aids is the best thing you can do to be certain that your hearing aids last as long as possible. Dropping them or getting them wet are things you should not do if possible. And make sure you do all the required maintenance and cleaning.
You’ll usually be able to get around five years from your hearing aid. It’s generally up to chance whether you can make them last longer than this. But at some point when you have to make a choice. Inevitably, modern hearing aids provide features you will probably want. So, in order to determine what hearing aid is best for you, schedule a hearing test right away.