While it may be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what small benefit you get from them may be costly. Hearing aid technology has progressed a great deal in the last few years! A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even on the drawing board, going digital for instance.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your hearing aids, there are a number of things you’ll have to do to pick the right ones for your needs. First, you’ll have to get a hearing test to identify if your degree of hearing loss has changed. Your choices will begin to be narrowed down after we determine your current degree of hearing loss. Here are some reasons why it’s most likely time to upgrade.
Reliability of hearing aids
Every now and then you’ll get an aggravating buzz or other problems with older or low-quality hearing aids. What about when you go near a phone and your hearing aids start to feedback? In some cases, there’s a shrill feedback sound that seems to come out of nowhere, too. Newer models compensate for prevalent issues so that you hear feedback less often.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume control was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Hearing aids have much more technology and capability nowadays.
- Background noise reduction: Contemporary hearing aids use numerous strategies to minimize background noise, including directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback nullification. Noise filters reduce unwanted noise while directional microphones are designed to detect sound right in front of you. Feedback cancellation helps to counter the whistling sound that can manifest when hearing aids aren’t fitted properly.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be synced to your hearing aid. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes easy with this.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids provide much better sound quality than older models. This is due to advances in digital signal processing, which allows hearing aids to more precisely reproduce sound. Modern hearing aids also often feature custom programs that are set for specific settings.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the user can use a voice focusing feature that lets them focus on specific voices they want to hear. This is accomplished by utilizing directional microphones to detect the sound of the desired voice and then boost it. When somebody is talking quietly or in a noisy setting, voice focus can be really helpful.
Frequent battery replacement
Price is always a consideration in terms of upgrading your hearing aids. The new technology isn’t cheap, but neither is using old, outdated hearing aids. Analog devices need 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. It’s in the shop more than it’s in your ear and the repairs are not cheap.
You’re not capable of hearing at work
Research has shown that hearing loss can mean a reduced paycheck. Naturally, your career would benefit from wearing better hearing aids. You’ll have a better time hearing what customers, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You will follow instructions without wondering if you got it right and have essential conversations without being concerned about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.
Of course, better communication means a better quality of life, as well. You’ll be able to communicate with people again. Dive in and engage with the people around you.
You want something more subtle
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 considerable reasons to replace those outdated hearing aids. A number of styles, shapes, and sizes are available in modern hearing aids. You could either get one in your favorite color and make a fashion statement or get one small enough that it will go undetected by others.
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 in the past. Call us today to discuss your options.
