While it may be true that older hearing aids are better than no hearing aids, chances are what small benefit you get from them comes at a cost. Within the past few years, hearing aid technology has made significant progress. Ten years ago many of the features of modern 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 few things you’ll need to do to pick the best ones for your needs. A hearing test to find out how your hearing has changed will be required first. Once you know how much hearing loss you have, you can begin to narrow down your options. Here are some reasons why it’s probably time for an upgrade.
Hearing aid dependability
Every once in a while you’ll get an annoying buzz or other issues with older or low-quality hearing aids. And, how about feedback whenever you get close to a phone? At times, they will squeal with feedback for no distinct reason. Your feedback will be greatly reduced with newer models which have functions that compensate for common issues.
Volume isn’t enough
Ten years ago hearing aids primarily specialized in fixing the volume. Nowadays, hearing aids are equipped with much more advanced technology.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids offer much higher sound quality than older models. Signal processing has become digital, which duplicates and amplifies sound in a more precise way. Modern hearing aids also frequently feature custom programs that are set for specific settings.
- Bluetooth capability: This feature allows hearing aids to sync to other devices, including smartphones, TVs, and other smart devices. This can be helpful for streaming music or making phone calls.
- 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 done by utilizing directional microphones to detect the sound of the desired voice and then amplify it. When somebody is talking quietly or in a loud setting, voice focus can be quite helpful.
- Background noise reduction: Contemporary hearing aids use a number of strategies to reduce background noise, including directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback nullification. Noise filters minimize unwanted sound while directional microphones are designed to focus on sound directly in front of you. When your hearing aid is not correctly fitted, a whistling sound can take place which will be prevented by feedback cancellation.
Frequent battery replacing
Price is always a consideration when it comes to a hearing aid upgrade. You may think that upgrading your hearing aid will cost too much, but old outdated hearing aids can be expensive as well. The batteries in analog devices go dead and need to be replaced a lot. If you are replacing the battery every day, or even more frequently than that, the cost adds up.
Old hearing aids can oftentimes spend more time getting repaired, also. If you view your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. It’s in for repair more than it’s in your ear and the repairs aren’t cheap.
You’re not able to hear at work
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a reduced paycheck. Doesn’t it make sense 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 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 have to sit like a wallflower during discussions anymore. Jump in and engage with the people around you.
You want a smaller hearing aid
What do you think about when you look in the mirror and see that old hearing aid? Awkward? Obvious? OMG? Flexibility and style are some of the most considerable reasons to replace those old hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You could either get one in your favorite color and make a fashion statement or get one small enough that it will go unseen by others.
If you’re considering investing in new hearing aids, or if you’re already wearing them but you’re not happy with the results, consider upgrading to a newer model. Technology has advanced significantly in the last several years, and there are now hearing aids available that can do things that were never possible before. Get in touch with us for a consultation.