While it may be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, chances are what small benefit you get from them may be costly. Within the past few years, hearing aid technology has made substantial developments. It’s changed from analog to digital, for one thing, and there are features currently that weren’t even on the drawing board a decade ago.
When you decide it’s time to update, choosing the right one will take a little planning. A hearing exam to determine how your hearing has changed will be required first. Once you recognize how much hearing loss you’re dealing with, you can begin to get a clearer look at your options. It’s probably 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. How about when you get next to a phone and your hearing aids start to feedback? Frequently, they will squeal with feedback for no evident reason. Newer designs compensate for common issues so that you hear feedback less often.
Volume isn’t enough
A decade ago hearing aids chiefly focused on correcting the volume. Today, hearing aids are loaded with much better technology.
- Background noise reduction: Feedback cancellation, noise filters, and directional microphones are some of the many strategies utilized by modern hearing aids. Noise filters reduce unwanted noise while directional microphones are made to focus on sound right in front of you. Feedback cancellation helps to prevent the whistling sound that can manifest when hearing aids aren’t properly fitted.
- Voice focus: Some hearing aids also provide voice focus, which helps the wearer to focus on the voices they want to hear. The sound of the desired voice is detected and amplified by directionally arranged microphones. When someone is speaking quietly or in a loud setting, voice focus can be quite helpful.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be connected to your hearing aid. This can be useful for streaming music or making phone calls.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids provide much better sound quality than older models. Signal processing has become digital, which reproduces and amplifies sound in a more accurate way. Modern hearing aids also often feature custom programs that are set for specific settings.
Frequent battery replacement
Price is always a factor with regard to upgrading your hearing aids. You might think that updating your hearing aid will be too costly, but old outdated hearing aids can be expensive as well. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. The expenses will add up, particularly if you need to switch out batteries every day or more.
Old hearing aids can oftentimes spend more time getting repaired, also. Think of what a 1990 Chevy would be like and apply that idea to hearing aids. The costs of the continual repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You’re not capable of hearing at work
Research has shown that hearing loss can lead to a lower income. Obviously, your career would be improved by wearing better hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time hearing what clients, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You will follow instructions without wondering if you got it right and have important conversations without being concerned about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And with better communication, you will have a better quality of life. You don’t need to sit like a wallflower in the middle of discussions anymore. Dive in and engage with the people around you.
You want something more discreet
When you look in the mirror at your outdated hearing aid, what words come to mind? Awkward? Noticeable? OMG? Some of the most considerable advantages that come with updating old hearing aids are style and flexibility. Quite a few shapes, styles, and sizes are available in contemporary 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 unnoticed by others.
If you’re considering investing in new hearing aids, or if you’re already wearing them but you’re unhappy with the results, consider upgrading to a newer model. The things that modern technology has allowed hearing aids to do was never possible before. Call us today to talk about your options.
