While it could be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, chances are what small benefit you get from them may be costly. Within the last few years, hearing aid technology has made significant progress. A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even in development, going digital for instance.
When you determine it’s time to upgrade, choosing the correct one will take some preparation. A hearing test to identify how your hearing has changed will be required first. Once you know how much hearing loss you’re dealing with, you can start to narrow down your choices. It’s most likely time for an upgrade for the following reasons.
Reliability of hearing aids
Every once in a while you’ll get an annoying buzz or other problems with older or low-quality hearing aids. What about when you go next to a phone and your hearing aids begin to feedback? At times, they will squeal with feedback for no evident reason. Newer designs compensate for common problems so that you hear feedback less frequently.
Volume isn’t enough
Ten years ago hearing aids chiefly focused on fixing the volume. Hearing aids have a lot more technology and functionality nowadays.
- Background noise reduction: Modern hearing aids use numerous strategies to decrease background noise, including directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback cancellation. Noise filters minimize unwanted sound while directional microphones are made to focus on sound directly in front of you. Feedback cancellation helps to prevent the whistling sound that can take place when hearing aids are not fitted properly.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the wearer can use a voice focusing feature that allows them to focus on specific voices they want to hear. The sound of the intended voice is picked up and amplified by directionally arranged microphones. Voice focus can be helpful in loud settings or when the user is trying to hear somebody who is talking softly.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids provide much higher sound quality than older models. Signal processing has gone to digital, which reproduces and amplifies sound in a more accurate way. Modern hearing aids also often feature custom programs that are preset for specific situations.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other equipped devices can now be connected to your hearing aid. This can be useful for streaming music or making phone calls.
Frequent battery replacement
When we’re talking about a hearing aid upgrade, price is always a factor. You may think that updating your hearing aid will cost too much, but old antiquated hearing aids can be costly as well. The batteries in analog devices die and need replacement a lot. If you are replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more frequently than that, the expense adds up.
Out-of-date hearing aids can oftentimes spend more time getting repaired, also. Consider what a 1990 Chevy would be like and apply that concept to hearing aids. The costs of the continual repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You’re not able to hear at work
Research demonstrates that people with untreated hearing loss will have a lower income. Doesn’t it seem sensible then, that better hearing aids would be a career advantage? You’ll have an easier time hearing what clients, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You won’t have to worry about whether you will miss important information or guidelines.
And with stronger communication, you will have a better quality of life. You don’t need to sit like a wallflower in the middle of discussions anymore. Get right back into being socially connected.
You want a smaller hearing aid
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, what comes to mind? Clunky? Obvious? OMG? Style and flexibility are some of the most considerable reasons to replace those outdated hearing aids. Modern hearing aids come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can have one tucked 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 not happy with the results you’re getting from your old set. The things that contemporary technology has allowed hearing aids to do wasn’t even possible before. Get in touch with us for a consultation.