If you’re still wearing your older hearing aids, they might be better than no hearing aids, but they also could be costing you in some ways. Within the last few years, hearing aid technology has made significant advancements. It’s gone from analog to digital, for one thing, and there are features currently that weren’t even on the drawing board 10 years ago.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your hearing aids, there are a few things you’ll need to do to select the best ones for your needs. First, you’ll have to get a hearing test to identify if your level of hearing loss has changed. Your choices will start to be narrowed down after we identify your present level of hearing loss. It’s most likely time for an upgrade for the following reasons.
Hearing aid reliability
Every now and then you’ll get an aggravating buzz or other problems with older or low-quality hearing aids. How about when you get next to a phone and your hearing aids start to feedback? Sometimes, there’s a shrill feedback noise that seems to happen out of nowhere, too. Your feedback will be greatly diminished with newer models which have functions that compensate for common issues.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume control was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Today, hearing aids are equipped with much better technology.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other equipped devices can now be synced to your hearing aid. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes easy with this.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the user can use a voice focusing function that lets them focus on particular voices they want to hear. The sound of the intended voice is picked up and amplified by directionally arranged microphones. When someone is speaking quietly or in a noisy setting, voice focus can be quite helpful.
- Improved sound quality: Today’s hearing aids provide much better sound quality than older models. Signal processing has gone to digital, which duplicates and amplifies sound in a more precise way. Modern hearing aids also often feature custom programs that are preset for specific environments.
- Background noise reduction: Contemporary hearing aids use a variety of strategies to decrease background noise, and that includes directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback nullification. Directional microphones focus on the sound coming from the front of the wearer, while noise filters minimize undesirable sounds from all directions. When your hearing aid is not correctly fitted, a whistling sound can take place which will be prevented by feedback nullification.
Frequent battery replacement
When we’re thinking about a hearing aid upgrade, cost is always a factor. You might think that updating your hearing aid will be too costly, but old antiquated hearing aids can be costly also. The batteries in analog devices die and need to be replaced frequently. The costs will add up, particularly if you need to switch out batteries daily or more.
Out-of-date hearing aids can potentially spend more time at the shop, too. If you view your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the concept. The costs of the continual repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Studies show that hearing loss can lead to a lower income. Naturally, your career would benefit from 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 discussions without being concerned about whether your hearing aids will cut out or not.
And with better communication, you will have a better quality of life. You don’t have to sit by yourself during conversations anymore. Dive in and connect with the people around you.
You want something more discreet
When you look in the mirror at your old hearing aid, what comes to mind? Awkward? Noticeable? OMG? Some of the most significant advantages that come with replacing old hearing aids are flexibility and style. A number of shapes, styles, and sizes are available in contemporary hearing aids. You can have one nestled into your ear so nobody will ever see it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in a color you love.
If you’re thinking about investing in new hearing aids, or if you’re already wearing 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 wasn’t even possible before. Contact us today to talk about your options.