It’s difficult to be without your hearing aid once you get used to wearing one. After all, your hearing aids are essential to connect to your world. But it will periodically need to be updated or replaced just like all technology.
The Average Lifespan of a Hearing Aid
So the typical hearing aid will last how long?The average lifespan of a typical hearing aid will be anywhere from 3 to 5 years. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you need to have your hearing tested regularly to make certain your hearing aid is still the best choice for you. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models wear out more rapidly than others and technology is continuously changing.
Variables That May Influence Your Hearing Aid Longevity
But that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. Which means that hearing aids could last much longer for many people. Here are a number of factors that will determine how long your hearing aids will last:
- Frequent care and upkeep: In a variety of ways, a hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology: the better you care for it, the longer it will last. That’s the reason why you should always clean your hearing aids and conduct regular maintenance just as as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Quality of Build: Hearing aids are costly. But you usually get what you pay for, as with most things. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid should last.
- Capability: Hearing aids have been changing along with constantly changing technology. If you want your hearing aids to have the sharpest sound, you might want to upgrade. This will also allow you to sync your device to your television, smartphone and other devices.
- 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 additional sophistication, and usually, it winds up being worth it. But additional complex technology does present a breakability factor. One thing that is helpful is that software upgrades instead of hardware upgrades have been cleverly employed for better functionality in current day hearing aids.
- Changes to your hearing: Those tiny, easy to hide devices are often the choice of adults who wear hearing aids. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated and they have exactly the amount of power you require. You might need to switch to a more powerful hearing aid if your hearing gets worse.
- How often your hearing aids are used: So if you use your hearing aid more often, you will to replace it sooner. But that’s not always true, modern hearing aids are made to be used for long durations. It’s actually more accurate to say that if you turn the power on and off frequently, you will need to replace your hearing aid sooner.
Can You Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer?
We need to recognize that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They might have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed especially for you. Also, they are a significant investment. So it’s a common goal to get the most that you can from your hearing aid.
And it’s an achievable one. Really, the best thing you can do to make sure your hearing aids last as long as possible is to take care of them. Getting them wet or dropping them are things you should never do if possible. And make sure you do all the necessary maintenance and cleaning.
You’ll usually be able to get around five years out of a hearing aid. Whether it’s possible to get more than that is, generally, up to chance. But at some point when you have to make a decision. Ultimately, modern hearing aids provide features you will probably want. So, schedule a hearing test right away to find out which hearing aid is the best one for you.