If you’re still wearing your older hearing aids, they might be better than no hearing aids, but they also may be costing you in some ways. Hearing aid technology has progressed a great deal in the past few years! A decade ago many of the features of current hearing aids weren’t even on the drawing board, 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 right ones for your needs. First, you’ll need to have a hearing test to determine if your level of hearing loss has changed. Your options will start to be narrowed down after we establish your present level of hearing loss. Here are a few reasons why it’s probably time to upgrade.
Hearing aid dependability
Older or even low-quality hearing aids have significant issues, like that annoying buzz you hear every now and then. What about when you get near a phone and your hearing aids begin to feedback? Sometimes, there’s a shrill feedback noise that seems to happen out of nowhere, also. Newer designs compensate for prevalent issues so that you hear feedback less frequently.
Volume isn’t enough
Ten years ago hearing aids chiefly specialized in fixing the volume. Nowadays, hearing aids are equipped with much more advanced technology.
- Background noise reduction: Modern hearing aids use a variety of strategies to reduce background noise, including directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback nullification. Noise filters reduce unwanted sound while directional microphones are made to focus on sound directly in front of you. When your hearing aid is not properly fitted, a whistling sound can occur which will be prevented by feedback nullification.
- Bluetooth capability: This feature lets hearing aids connect to other devices, including smartphones, TVs, and other smart devices. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes easy with this.
- Voice focus: Some hearing aids also provide voice focus, which helps the user to focus on the voices they choose to hear. The sound of the intended voice is detected and amplified by directionally arranged microphones. Voice focus can be helpful in loud environments or when the wearer is attempting to hear somebody who is talking softly.
- Improved sound quality: Older hearing aid models had much lower quality of sound than modern-day models. This is because of advances in digital signal processing, which allows hearing aids to more accurately duplicate sound. Modern hearing aids also frequently feature custom programs that are set for specific environments.
You have to replace the batteries – a lot
When we’re talking about upgrading your hearing aid, price is always a factor. The new technology is not inexpensive, but neither is using old, out-of-date hearing aids. The batteries in analog devices go dead and need to be replaced a lot. If you are replacing the battery on a daily basis, or even more often than that, the expense adds up.
Old hearing aids can oftentimes spend more time at the shop, too. Think of what a 1990 Chevy would be like and apply that concept to hearing aids. It’s in for repair more than it’s in your ear and the repairs are not inexpensive.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Research reveals that people with untreated hearing loss will have a lower income. Obviously, your career would benefit from wearing better hearing aids. You’ll have an easier time hearing what clients, coworkers, and your boss are saying to you. You won’t have to be concerned about whether you’ll miss critical information or instructions.
And with better communication, you will have a better quality of life. You’ll be capable of communicating with people again. Get right back into being socially connected.
You want a smaller hearing aid
When you look in the mirror at your outdated hearing aid, what words come to mind? Clunky? Obvious? OMG? Flexibility and style are some of the most compelling reasons to replace those old hearing aids. Quite a few styles, shapes, and sizes are available in contemporary hearing aids. You could either get one in your favorite color and make a fashion statement or get one small enough that it will go unobserved by others.
It’s time to consider upgrading your hearing aids if you’re not happy with the results you’re getting from your old set. The things that contemporary technology has allowed hearing aids to do wasn’t even possible before. Get in touch with us for a consultation.