Replacing Hearing Aids: Is It Necessary?

It doesn’t matter if you are an existing hearing aid user or are looking into getting a pair for your first time; being educated is a crucial aspect. Hearing aids are an important investment, so knowing as much as you can help prepare you and help you get the most out of your hearing aids. One important aspect is knowing when is the proper time to replace your hearing aids. Replacing hearing aids is something you will have to do eventually along the way, but it is essential to know how long they last and what variables can affect the lifespan of your hearing aids.

Replacing hearing aids is something that generally needs to be done every 4 to 6 years. However, there are varying factors that could shorten or extend the life span of your hearing aid, so it is crucial that you are aware of the factors so you can make the most out of your investment.

1. If you are an existing hearing aid user, do you keep your hearing aids clean? If you don’t regularly clean your hearing aid, you can shorten its lifespan and negatively affect the sound quality. So if you want to increase the lifespan of your hearing aids, clean your hearing aid daily to remove dust, oils, earwax, dirt, and any built-up moisture. So if you want to extend the lifespan of your device, thoroughly clean your hearing aids daily.

2. Cleaning your hearing aids daily will help reduce the need for repairs and will help you catch problems (and potential problems) before they become a big deal. Certain hearing aids have replaceable parts, and if something is looking like it needs to be replaced, you are likely to catch it during your daily cleaning. Overall, if you do the necessary maintenance on your hearing aids, you run a good chance of increasing their lifespan.

3. Even when you do routine maintenance, there is always the chance that your hearing aid may become obsolete after several years. In time, the manufacturer may stop making replacement parts for your model, which can eventually make repairs impossible or too expensive to do. Plus, in time, things fail. Even if replacement parts are still available, the cost it may take to repair your hearing aid might be too high to make the repair worth it. When this occurs, it probably will be worth getting a new pair of hearing aids.

4. Certain styles of hearing aids have a longer lifespan than others. For example, in-the-ear hearing aids generally don’t last as long as behind-the-ear hearing aids. The reason for this is in-the-ear hearing aids are exposed to a lot more. Since they sit inside the ear, they are often exposed to sweat, moisture, and earwax, which can affect sound quality and performance after a few years.

5. Pay special mind to how and where you store your hearing aids when you are not using them. This aspect plays a crucial role in how long your hearing aids will last. Some people like to keep their hearing aid in the bathroom, which might make sense since many get ready for the day in the bathroom, but the bathroom is one of the worst spots to store your hearing aids when not in use. Bathrooms are often humid, and humidity can shorten the lifespan of your hearing aids. So instead, keep your hearing aids in a safe, dry location.