How Soon do Hearing Aids Need to be Upgraded?

Audiologist fits a hearing aid on mature man ear while visit a hearing clinic.

It’s difficult to be separated from your hearing aid after you get used to having one. Your hearing aids are, after all, your connection to the world around you. But it will occasionally have to be upgraded or replaced just like all technology.

The average lifespan of a hearing aid

From 3 to 7 years will be the typical lifespan of a hearing aid. You will need to get regular hearing tests to make sure your current hearing aid is still the best option for your hearing needs, and the 3 to 7 year lifespan isn’t etched in stone. As your hearing changes, your current hearing aid might not be the ideal solution anymore and with continually improving technology, some hearing aids will have to be upgraded sooner than others.

There are other factors that will influence the lifespan of your hearing aids

So, that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. So hearing might last a lot longer for some individuals. Here are a number of factors that will establish how long your hearing aid should last:

  • Build quality: It can be expensive to purchase hearing aids. But, you usually get what you pay for, like with most things in life. The better the construction quality, the longer your hearing aid should last.
  • Changes to your hearing: Most grownups go for those really small hearing aids that conceal easily. Those devices have the correct amount of power you require and are extremely precisely fine-tuned. You may need to upgrade to a more powerful device if your hearing gets worse.
  • Functionality: Hearing aids have been keeping pace with continuously changing technology. You might want to upgrade your hearing aid if you want the sharpest sound or if you want to sync with you your smart-devices including your phone or TV.
  • Proper care & maintenance: A hearing aid is similar to most other types of technology in many ways so it should last longer if you take better care of it. So, cleaning your hearing aid and doing routine maintenance according to the manufacturer’s advice is something you should always do.
  • How frequently your hearing aids are worn: The more you use your hearing aids, the sooner they will have to be replaced. But that’s not always the case, modern hearing aids are intended to be used for long durations. Actually, it might be more precise to say that the more times you turn on and off the device, the sooner it will need replacing.

How can you get longer life out of your hearing aid?

We have to understand that hearing aids are rather personal things. In most circumstances, they are tuned specifically for your ears and will likely have custom molds. The investment is also considerable. So getting the most you can from your hearing aids is the common goal.

And this is a very attainable goal. The best thing you can do if you want your hearing aid to last is take good care of it. Try not to drop them or get them wet. And make sure you do all the recommended cleaning and maintenance.

You’ll normally be able to get a good five years from your hearing aid. You may or may not get more than that. But ultimately, you will have to make a choice. Inevitably, more modern hearing aids provide features you will probably want. So, give us a call to make an appointment for a hearing test right away. We’ll help you figure out which hearing aid is best for you.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.