While it might be true that older hearing aids are better than nothing, it’s likely that what small advantage you get from them comes at a cost. Hearing aid technology has progressed a great deal in the last few years! Ten years ago many of the features of modern hearing aids weren’t even in development, going digital for instance.
If you’re considering upgrading your hearing aids, there are a few things you’ll have to do to select the best ones for your needs. First, you’ll have to get a hearing test to determine if your degree of hearing loss has changed. Your choices will begin to be narrowed down after we establish your current level of hearing loss. 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 issues, such as that aggravating buzz you hear every once in a while. How about when you get next to a phone and your hearing aids begin to feedback? Sometimes, there’s a shrill feedback sound that seems to happen out of nowhere, also. Your feedback will be significantly diminished with newer models which have features that compensate for common issues.
Volume isn’t enough
Ten years ago hearing aids chiefly focused on correcting the volume. Today, hearing aids are equipped with much better technology.
- Background noise reduction: Feedback cancellation, noise filters, and directional microphones are a few of the many strategies utilized by modern hearing aids. Directional microphones focus on the sound coming from the front of the user, while noise filters minimize undesirable sounds from all directions. When your hearing aid isn’t correctly fitted, a whistling sound can happen which will be eliminated by feedback nullification.
- Voice focus: Some hearing aids also offer voice focus, which helps the user to focus on the voices they choose to hear. This is done by utilizing directional microphones to detect the sound of the desired voice and then boost it. When someone is speaking quietly or in a loud setting, voice focus can be very helpful.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be synced 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 frequently feature custom programs that are preset for specific situations.
You have to change the batteries – a lot
Price is always a consideration with regard to upgrading your hearing aids. The new technology isn’t inexpensive, but neither is wearing old, out-of-date hearing aids. Analog devices need new batteries frequently. If you’re replacing the battery every day, or even more often than that, the expense adds up.
Out-dated hearing aids break down and need to go to the shop for repair more often. If you view your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. It’s in for repair more than it’s in your ear and the repairs aren’t inexpensive.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Research reveals that individuals with neglected hearing loss will have a lower income. Obviously, your career would be improved by wearing better hearing aids. You’ll hear your boss and customers clearer. You will follow instructions without questioning if you got it right and have important conversations without worrying about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
Of course, better communication means an enhanced quality of life, as well. You’ll be capable of communicating with people again. Dive in and connect with the people around you.
You want something more subtle
When you look in the mirror at your outdated hearing aid, what words come to mind? Clunky? Noticeable? OMG? Style and flexibility are some of the most significant reasons to upgrade those old hearing aids. Modern hearing aids come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can have one nestled into your ear so nobody will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
If you’re thinking about getting new hearing aids, or if you already have them but you’re unhappy with the results, consider upgrading to a newer model. The things that contemporary technology has allowed hearing aids to do was never possible before. Give us a call today to talk about your options.
