Hearing aids are an essential tool for the majority of people with hearing loss. Not only do they make it easier to converse with others, whether at the office or enjoying a night out with friends at The Liberty Tavern, but research has shown they provide users with a higher quality of life.
However, sometimes, in order to get the most from hearing aids, you need to know when it’s time to upgrade from your current pair to ones that suit you better.
Let’s look at four reasons why it might be time to get new hearing aids.
You’ve Experienced Big Life Changes
When you were first fitted with hearing aids, your audiologist likely asked you about your home and work life as well as your hobbies. That’s because your hearing aid needs are partially based on what activities you engage in throughout the day, as well as your listening environments.
If in the time since you got your current pair of hearing aids, your work or home life has gotten louder, or you’ve taken up an outdoor hobby like hiking or cycling that requires better wind suppression, it may be time for new hearing aids.
You’ve Developed Certain Health Conditions
Certain health conditions may require a change in hearing aids as well. For example, people with arthritis can find it very difficult to change the batteries on their hearing aids or make manual adjustments due to the small size. In this case, it may be wise to get new hearing aids that have larger battery doors and settings that adjust automatically. Additionally, you may want to consider rechargeable hearing aids that don’t require battery changes.
Your Hearing Has Gotten Worse
Much like your vision, your hearing needs can change over time, and you may require different hearing aids to better meet your current needs.
If you notice that you’re having a harder time following conversations or understanding what’s being said when watching TV, schedule an appointment with your audiologist. These issues may be caused by an issue with your hearing aids, or you may need an upgrade to improve your listening experience.
You Have Had Your Current Hearing Aids for Over Five Years
Like most technology, hearing aids have a shelf life, and once they have surpassed it, they start to become outdated. Most hearing aids older than five years should be replaced, with the maximum recommended lifespan being seven years.
Not only do older hearing aids have natural wear and tear, but they also don’t have many of the features or technological capabilities that newer models do.
If it’s time to upgrade your hearing aids or if you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our hearing experts, contact ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today.