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 lot in the last few years! Ten years ago many of the features of modern 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. A hearing test to find out how your hearing has changed will be necessary first. Your options will begin to be narrowed down once we determine your current degree of hearing loss. It’s probably time for an upgrade for the following reasons.
Hearing aid dependability
Every once in a while you’ll get an aggravating buzz or other problems with older or low-quality hearing aids. What about when you get near a phone and your hearing aids start to feedback? Occasionally, there’s a shrill feedback sound that seems to happen out of nowhere, too. Your feedback will be greatly reduced with newer models which have functions that compensate for common issues.
Volume isn’t enough
Volume regulation was about the only function of hearing aids ten years ago. Hearing aids have a lot more technology and capability nowadays.
- Bluetooth capability: Tvs, cellphones, and other enabled devices can now be synced to your hearing aid. Making phone calls or listening to music becomes simple with this.
- Background noise reduction: Modern hearing aids use a variety of techniques to decrease background noise, and that includes directional microphones, noise filters, and feedback cancellation. Noise filters minimize undesired noise while directional microphones are designed to detect sound right in front of you. When your hearing aid isn’t correctly fitted, a whistling sound can occur which will be prevented by feedback cancellation.
- 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 precisely duplicate sound. In addition, many hearing aids now provide features like multiple programs that can be customized to different listening environments.
- Voice focus: With some newer models the wearer can use a voice focusing function that lets them focus on particular voices they want to hear. This is accomplished by using directional microphones to detect the sound of the desired voice and then amplify it. When someone is speaking quietly or in a noisy setting, voice focus can be really helpful.
Frequent battery replacement
When we’re thinking about a hearing aid upgrade, price is always a factor. The new technology isn’t cheap, but neither is wearing old, out-of-date hearing aids. Analog devices require new batteries frequently. The expenses will add up, particularly if you have to replace batteries daily or more.
Out-of-date hearing aids can potentially spend more time getting repaired, also. If you think of your hearing aid as a 1992 Buick, you get the idea. The costs of the continual repairs can get quickly out of hand.
You can’t hear your coworkers
Research reveals that people with neglected hearing loss will earn less. Doesn’t it seem sensible then, that better hearing aids would be a career advantage? You’ll hear your boss and customers better. You will follow instructions without questioning if you got it right and have essential conversations without being concerned about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.
Of course, better communication means an enhanced quality of life, too. You’ll be capable of communicating with people again. Dive in and connect with the people around you.
You want a smaller hearing aid
What do you think about when you look in the mirror and see that old hearing aid? Awkward? Obvious? OMG? Some of the most compelling advantages that come with replacing old hearing aids are style and flexibility. Quite a few shapes, styles, and sizes are available in modern hearing aids. You can have one nestled into your ear so no one will ever notice it, or you can make a fashion statement with a visible hearing aid in your favorite color.
It’s time to think about upgrading your hearing aids if you’re not happy with the results you’re getting from your old set. The things that modern technology has allowed hearing aids to do was never possible before. Contact us today to talk about your options.