It’s difficult to be without your hearing aid once you get used to wearing one. After all, your hearing aids are crucial to connect to your world. But just as any technology you use daily, it will occasionally need to be replaced or upgraded.
The Typical Hearing Aid Lifespan
So the average hearing aid will last how long? The average lifespan of a typical hearing aid is going to be anywhere from 3 to 5 years. So that you can make sure hearing aids are still your best option, you need to have your hearing examined periodically because there’s no hard and fast rule. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models age more rapidly than others and technology is constantly changing.
Factors That May Impact Your Hearing Aid Longevity
Because that’s only the average, right? Which means there are a lot of people who may see their hearing aids last much longer. How long your hearing aids will last is determined by a number of considerations:
- Functionality: Technology is continuously changing, and hearing aids have been keeping up. If you would like your hearing aids to sync up with your smartphone, television, or other devices, or to just have the best sound, you may want to upgrade.
- The Hearing Aid’s Complexity: The more complex your hearing aid is, the more variables you have to contend with (meaning there’s more that can go wrong). However, you might need that added sophistication, and usually, it winds up being worth it. But additional complex technology does introduce a breakability factor. Modern hearing aids have gotten quite wise about presenting more functionality using software instead of hardware, which does help.
- Maintenance and regular care: A hearing aid is like all other technology in a lot of ways: it will last longer if you take better care of it. That’s why you should always clean your hearing aids and do regular maintenance just as as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Build quality: Hearing aids are expensive. But you normally get what you pay for, as with most things. Your hearing aid is likely to last longer if it is constructed better.
- How often your hearing aids are worn: So if you wear your hearing aid more often, you will to replace it sooner. But that’s not always the case, modern hearing aids are meant to be used for long periods. It’s really more valid to say that if you turn the power on and off frequently, you will need to replace your hearing aid sooner.
- Changes to your hearing: Those small, easy to hide devices are often the choice of adults who use hearing aids. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated and they have precisely the amount of power you require. You might need to switch to a more powerful hearing aid if your hearing gets worse.
Making Your Hearing Aids Last Longer
We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. In many instances, they are programmed exclusively for your ears and might have custom molds. They are also a significant investment. So it’s a common objective to get the most out of your hearing aid.
And it’s one you can achieve. Really, the best thing you can do to make sure your hearing aids last as long as possible is to take care of them. Don’t drop them or get them wet. And all the required maintenance and cleaning are things you should never neglect.
You’ll usually be able to get around five years out of a hearing aid. It’s often up to chance whether you can get more than this. But there comes a time when you have to make a decision. Inevitably, you will likely want the new features offered by modern hearing aids. So, in order to find out which hearing aid is best for you, schedule a hearing exam right away.