Hearing aids, on average, have a lifespan of around 5 years, depending on frequency of use and care. But over time they will succumb to wear and tear and will eventually need an upgrade regardless of how well you care for them.
But how do you know when it’s time for an upgrade? There will be signs that your device is nearing the end of its life, and some will be more noticeable than others.
Frequent Whistling or Feedback Sounds
Occasional feedback like a brief whistle when putting a hearing aid on or taking it off is normal. But persistent or frequent whistling points to a more serious problem rather than just something to ignore. This can come down to a poor fit, as ears change over time and the mould can loosen as you wear it and take it on and off each day, and this lets sound leak out and re-enter the microphone. When you clean the device, check the device and replace any worn domes or wax guards, and if this does not resolve it, it might be that the technology is becoming outdated or the device needs a repair.
Battery Draining Faster Than It Used To
A hearing aid that once lasted a full day on charge but now needs topping up by mid-afternoon is showing clear signs of battery degradation; this is similar to how a phone’s battery weakens over years due to daily charging cycles.
Bluetooth rechargeable hearing aids tend to offer more consistent battery performance and longer daily runtime than they once did or than battery-powered hearing aids can offer. But regardless of the battery type, if your hearing aid is unexpectedly dying or losing charge much faster than it once did, this is a sign the internal battery has worn down rather than something fixable.
Struggling to Hear in Noisy Environments
If your hearing aid was once able to handle loud environments like restaurants or family gatherings or loud workplaces and now struggles is an indicator that something is amiss.
The answer for this could be down to outdated technology.
If an up-to-date hearing test confirms that it’s not a change in your hearing and if the problem is down to the device, it might be time to upgrade to a more modern device that can easily handle your needs. Newer devices with noise reduction technology can handle a wider range of environments more easily and use advanced processing to separate speech from background noise.
Needing More Frequent Repairs
Bringing your hearing aids in for repairs once or twice a year isn’t excessive and is pretty standard for something in use so often. But if you find you’re needing more repairs, frequent services, or you’re experiencing intermittent problems, then it might simply be nearing the end of its natural lifespan.
Better day to day care, cleaning and storage when not in use can help to extend the lifespan but that doesn’t stop the deterioration entirely and if you have had your device for anywhere from 3 to 7 years then it might simply be time to admit that it’s reached the end of useful life.
