If you’re still wearing your older hearing aids, they might be better than no hearing aids, but they also could be costing you in some ways. Hearing aid technology has progressed a great deal in the last few years! A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even in development, going digital for instance.
When you decide it’s time to update, choosing the right one will take a little planning. A hearing exam to establish how your hearing has changed will be required first. Once you know how much hearing loss you’re dealing with, you can begin to get a clearer look at your choices. It’s most likely time for an upgrade for the following reasons.
Dependability of hearing aids
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have real problems, like that irritating buzz you hear every now and then. How about when you go next to a phone and your hearing aids begin to feedback? In some cases, there’s a shrill feedback sound that seems to happen out of nowhere, also. Newer models compensate for prevalent problems so that you hear feedback less often.
Volume isn’t enough
A decade ago hearing aids mainly specialized in correcting the volume. Today, hearing aids are loaded with much more advanced technology.
- 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: Older hearing aid models had far lower quality of sound than modern-day models. Signal processing has gone to digital, which duplicates and amplifies sound in a more accurate way. Modern hearing aids also often feature custom programs that are set for specific environments.
- Voice focus: Some hearing aids also offer voice focus, which helps the wearer to focus on the voices they want to hear. This is accomplished by utilizing directional microphones to pick up the sound of the desired voice and then amplify it. Voice focus can be helpful in noisy settings or when the user is attempting to hear somebody who is speaking softly.
- Background noise reduction: Modern hearing aids use numerous techniques to minimize background noise, and that includes directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback nullification. Directional microphones focus on the sound coming from the front of the wearer, while noise filters decrease undesirable noises from all directions. When your hearing aid isn’t properly fitted, a whistling sound can happen which will be eliminated by feedback nullification.
You have to switch out the batteries – a lot
When we’re thinking about upgrading your hearing aid, price is always a factor. You may think that updating your hearing aid will cost too much, but old antiquated hearing aids can be costly also. Analog devices require new batteries a lot. If you are replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more often than that, the expense adds up.
Out-of-date hearing aids can oftentimes spend more time getting repaired, also. Consider what a 1990 Chevy would be like and apply that concept to hearing aids. The costs of the constant repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a reduced paycheck. Naturally, your career would benefit from wearing better hearing aids. You will hear your boss and customers clearer. You won’t have to worry about whether you will miss important information or guidelines.
Of course, better communication means a better quality of life, also. You don’t have to sit like a wallflower during conversations anymore. Get right back into being socially engaged.
You want a smaller hearing aid
What do you think when you look in the mirror and see that outdated hearing aid? Clunky? Noticeable? OMG? Style and flexibility are some of the most significant reasons to replace those outdated hearing aids. Quite a few styles, shapes, and sizes are available in modern hearing aids. You could either get one in your favorite color and make a fashion statement or get one discrete enough that it will go unnoticed by others.
It’s time to think about upgrading your hearing aids if you’re not happy with the results you’re getting from your old pair. Technology has advanced significantly in the past few years, and there are now hearing aids available that can do things that were impossible before. Contact us today to discuss your options.