It’s difficult to be separated from your hearing aid once you get used to wearing one. After all, your hearing aids are key to connect to your world. But just like any technology you use on a daily basis, it will periodically need to be replaced or upgraded.
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 strict rule, and you need to have your hearing examined regularly to make certain your hearing aid is still the best choice for you. Technology is constantly advancing and some hearing aids wear out more quickly than others, assuming your hearing doesn’t change.
Factors That Might Affect Your Hearing Aid Longevity
But that’s just the average life of a hearing aid. Which means hearing aids might last a lot longer for many people. How long your hearing aids will last is influenced by a number of factors:
- How frequently you use your hearing aids: So if you wear your hearing aid more often, you will need a new one sooner. But modern hearing aids are manufactured to be used for long durations so that’s not always the case. Maybe a better way to say it is that the more often you cycle power settings (turn the device on and off), the sooner you might need to get a new hearing aid.
- Functionality: Technology is continuously changing, and hearing aids have been changing too. If you want your hearing aids to sync with your smartphone, television, or other devices, or to just have the sharpest sound, you might want to upgrade.
- The Hearing Aid’s Complexity: A lot more can go wrong with your hearing aid if it’s more complex because there are more variables to contend with. However, sometimes you need that additional complexity, and often, it winds up being worth it. But added complex technology does introduce a breakability factor. Advanced hearing aids have gotten very clever about presenting more functionality via software instead of hardware, which does help.
- Your Hearing Changes: If you’re an adult and you use a hearing aid, you’ve likely decided on one of those very tiny, easy to hide devices. Those devices have the exact amount of power you need and are very precisely calibrated. You might need to switch to a more powerful hearing aid if your hearing gets worse.
- Maintenance and regular care: In a variety of ways, a hearing aid is like most other pieces of technology: the better you care for it, the longer it’ll last. As per the manufacturer’s instructions, you should always do routine maintenance and also clean your hearing aids.
- Quality of Build: It’s costly to buy hearing aids. But, as with most things in life, you normally get what you pay for. The better the build quality, the longer your hearing aid is likely to last.
Can You Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer?
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They might have custom molds and in the majority of cases are programmed especially for your ears. Also, they are a considerable investment. So getting the most value for your money getting your hearing aid to last as long as possible is a prevailing goal.
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. Don’t drop them or get them wet. And be sure to do all the required maintenance and cleaning.
Your hearing aids should last around five years. Whether it’s possible to get more than that is, generally, up to chance. But sometimes it’s up to you. Inevitably, more modern hearing aids provide features you will more than likely want. So, to determine which hearing aid is best for you, schedule a hearing exam right away.