Once you adjust to wearing a hearing aid, it’s hard to be separated from it. After all, your hearing aids are crucial to connect to your world. But it will occasionally need to be updated or replaced just like any technology.
The Normal Lifespan of a Hearing Aid
So the typical hearing aid will last how long?3 to 5 years will be the normal lifespan of a typical hearing aid. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you need to have your hearing checked periodically to be sure 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 constantly changing.
Factors That Might Influence Your Hearing Aid Longevity
Because that’s just the average, right? Which means hearing aids may last a lot longer for many individuals. Here are a few factors that will define how long your hearing aids will last:
- Complexity of the hearing aid: A lot more can go wrong with your hearing aid if it’s more complex because there are more variables to contend with. However, you might need that added sophistication, and usually, it winds up being worth it. But added complex technology does present a breakability factor. One thing that is helpful is that software upgrades rather than hardware upgrades have been cleverly employed for better functionality in modern hearing aids.
- Functionality: Hearing aids have been keeping up with constantly changing technology. If you would like your hearing aids to sync up with your smartphone, television, or other devices, or to just have the clearest sound, you might want to upgrade.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re an adult and you have a hearing aid, you’ve probably gone with one of those little, easy to hide devices. Those devices have the exact amount of power you need and are very precisely calibrated. So if your hearing becomes worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you might need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
- Frequent care and upkeep: A hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology in many ways: the better you care for it, the longer it will last. That’s the reason why you should always clean your hearing aids and perform regular maintenance just as the manufacturer suggests.
- Quality of Build: It’s expensive to purchase hearing aids. But, as with most things in life, you commonly get what you pay for. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid is likely to last.
- How frequently your hearing aids are worn: To a certain extent, the more frequently you use your hearing aid, the sooner you’ll need to replace it. But modern hearing aids are made to be used for long periods so that’s not always true. It’s really more valid to say that if you turn the power on and off a lot, you will need to replace your hearing aid sooner.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last Longer
We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They may have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed specifically for you. They are also a significant investment. So it’s a common objective to get the most that you can from your hearing aid.
And it’s an attainable one. Caring for 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 all the needed upkeep and cleaning are things you should never ignore.
Your hearing aids should last around five years. Whether you will be able to get more than that is, often, up to chance. But sometimes it’s up to you. Inevitably, you will likely want the new features offered by more modern hearing aids. So, in order to determine which hearing aid is the best one for you, schedule a hearing exam right away.
