When Should I Update my Hearing Aids?

Here are some issues to think about if you are on the fence about new hearing aids.

When Should I Update my Hearing Aids?

by Dr. Kevin Ivory

Better technology, life changes, hearing changes – you may need to update your hearing aids if any of these are true. At Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology, we want to help you stay engaged, alert and active so we are happy to discuss any life changes you may have that could mean a hearing aid update is on the horizon. Call today and schedule a consultation. Here are some issues to think about if you are on the fence about new hearing aids.

Are Your Hearing Aids Up to the Job?

Hearing aids do age and they have a lifespan of somewhere between five to seven years. Hearing aids are exposed to a lot of things. There are ear conditions like wax and moisture and then environmental  conditions like water, dust and debris. Some people can go five years without getting their hearing aids serviced and some people are in every couple of months getting them cleaned.

Are they doing the job you want? Can you talk on the phone without extra effort trying to understand? Are you getting feedback sometimes or in certain situations? Are they filtering out background noise like you expect them to? Are you adjusting them frequently? What about the batteries – are you changing them frequently?  If you answered ‘yes’ to several of these questions, it may be time to look at an upgrade.

Have There Been Changes in Your Life?

Changes in in your job, your home life, your hobbies or your circle of friends may be putting new challenges on your hearing aids. Does a change in your job mean more conference calls and meetings in different environments? Are you meeting clients in areas with lots of background noise? Changes like these could mean the original requirements you used to get your hearing aids have changed.

What about new people in your life? Are you having trouble in conversational settings because they speak quieter or maybe you’ve moved into a group home setting with lots of conversation and social activities? If you originally got a model of hearing aid based on what you thought was going to be a very quiet, sedate lifestyle – you may need an upgrade. Using the hands-free option in your car more? Newer hearing devices are a lot better at separating out sounds you need to hear and concentrate on from background noise.

How About Other Changes?

Perhaps you have decided you like to spend more time outdoors or you’ve taken up swimming or aquatic exercise.  Maybe you and some friends have decided to make it a regular event to go to the movies or theater performances. Have you changed your hair and you are ready for something that goes a little more in your ear or maybe a different color? That’s not frivolous because at Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology, we want you to be confident about your appearance and that includes your hearing aids.

New Technology is Pretty Awesome

Newer hearing aids can interface seamlessly with your smart phone, MP3 player, FM systems, your computer, you iPod, or iPad or your television. You can stream music from most media devices to your hearing aids and they will save the settings so you don’t need to readjust each time. Newer models have a GPS feature so they “remember” if you had to adjust somewhere and then adjust automatically each time you are back in that area. You may want a model that helps with tinnitus. Maybe you want to switch to a model that uses a charger not batteries. You just set the hearing devices on the charger and they automatically turn on when you take them off the charger.

Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology

If this new technology seems intimidating – don’t worry. At Glendora Hearing Aids & Audiology, we are here to help you sort all the new features out and use what benefits you. So, if it’s been awhile since you’ve visited, give our team a chance to help you decide if it’s the right time to upgrade. Remember, we have that 45-day trial period option so you can be 100% sure what you are getting is what you want and you will be able to use it.

Written by
Reviewed by
Dr. Kevin H. Ivory
Audiologist & University Instructor
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Dr. Kevin Ivory, Au.D., CCC-A received his Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Audiology degree from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, one of the top 10 audiology residential programs in the country.

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