Time to Read: 13 minutes
If you’ve had your hearing aids for a while, you should be considering an upgrade.
But watch out!
Be an informed consumer and avoid one of these 13 mistakes that could cost you time, money and your hearing health.
We get it! We all get comfortable with the familiar, but by doing some research, you might be surprised by how much better off you can be.
Don’t be afraid to look around. By shopping around you might find that you’re exposed to a greater range of hearing aid types and styles. You might find an increased level of service and support or even a more comprehensive set of hearing tests.
You certainly have nothing to lose by asking for a for a second opinion.
Major hearing aid brands are constantly conducting research and innovating, so even though your hearing aids have served you faithfully for years and Some hearing aid brands better suit some types of hearing loss than others
You might also be pleasantly surprised by the sound and features.
So, don’t be afraid to try a different brand if your audiologist recommends it.
Hearing aids have life changing benefits - and we’re not overstating it.
Being an empowered hearing aid user means you are making the hearing aids work for you. This results in getting the best possible benefit and doing all the things you want - improving your business productivity, actively participating in activities with friends and family, enjoying concerts and events with improved sound.
Disempowered means you are likely to be resentful, fight against your hearing aids, not use your hearing aids or end up with aids which are not delivering your best possible hearing or even pay too much for them.
Your hearing changes over time. As you get used to hearing aids you might find there are some things you’d like to improve on.
Make notes on how your hearing aids either help or hinder you in your everyday life - just as you should have done which you purchased your very first set of hearing aids . This information will assist your audiologist fine-tune your hearing aids or recommend another type of hearing aid which might better suit your hearing loss and your lifestyle.
Speech in noise testing is a simple two minute test (100% painless, we promise), but it could literally change your life (and not we’re not exaggerating). The reason is hearing well in noisy situations is the most vexing one.
What is surprising is not every audiologist offers this very important test. We take a look at why it is so important here.
You managed to get your first set of hearing aids at a good price and they work for you. Nailed it!
Now you’re ready to upgrade.
It should be pretty straightforward, right? Just go into the same clinic and pick up a new set. Or, now you know the makes and model, you might just do some shopping around on the internet and decide to order one online.
Big mistake!
You need a comprehensive hearing test complete with Speech In Noise and Real Ear Measurement to get an accurate hearing aid prescription. That’s not something you can do without professional assistance.
Ordering hearing aid devices from the Internet is fraught with all sorts of issues, which we address here.
We upgrade our glasses not because there is something wrong with the glasses, but there is something wrong with your eyes.
The same with your hearing. Some people put up with less than adequate hearing instead of getting new aids when they need them.
This is why we recommend you have a hearing test every year to ensure that your current aids are still serving you the best. You might be pleasantly be surprised how much better you hear after a hearing aid is adjusted as your hearing changes.
But as hearing aids get older, and as your hearing loss changes, you need to consider new ones. Typically you get the best from your hearing aid over about five years. After that time, hearing aids will break down more frequently.
We recommend ask your audiologist every three to five years about new hearing aids and whether the latest model might better support your hearing aids.
Hearing aids have a three to five year warranty. But should you keep an outdated model?
You shouldn’t for some very good reasons.
Your hearing changes over time and so do hearing aids, so what worked well for you five years ago, may not be the best fit for you today.
That affects your hearing and your cognitive ability over time. Poor hearing is strongly linked to other well-being issues including depression and social isolation.
The longer you leave off maximising your best hearing, the harder your brain has to work to process sound leaving you fatigued, at put you a risk of not being able to unscramble speech.
Purchasing a run out model is great if you’re buying a new car.
The prices are better for a brand new vehicle. It may not have some of the latest features or styling, but that doesn’t matter. It will still give you the full manufacturer’s warranty of trouble-free performance.
But is that the same for hearing aids?
Unfortunately it’s not.
Technology improves over time as well. Computer chips become faster, more powerful with new features to help maximise your hearing and make your life more convenient.
Other features, like the introduction of rechargeable hearing aid models, make it worthwhile to get the latest fully-featured model.
And another reason to upgrade?
Your older hearing aids may not be able to be serviced and repaired as parts run out and the computer chip no longer able to support the software. More importantly, waiting too long to upgrade means you’re not being exposed to the widest range of sounds that your brain needs to remain sharp and for you to enjoy the most out of life.
But as you better understand how hearing aid works with you and your hearing loss, you might find that you could get even better results with some hearing aid accessories such as a TV connector which streams directly to your hearing aid.
If you attend a lot of business meetings or group functions with lots of voices, then an additional microphone such as a Phonak Roger iN or pen might be invaluable. The very best thing you can do is get an updated test and discuss with your clinician whether accessories would benefit you.
Your primary driver for choosing hearing aids should be how best they work for your type of hearing loss, not the cost.
Price alone is not the best way to choose a good hearing aid for you. A hearing aid should be chosen to best address your hearing loss.
We encourage you to shop around for the best price, but don’t be fooled. Hearing aids are required to be fitted by a clinician who has the software to correctly program the aids. Hearing aids purchased overseas may be incompatible with the software.
The Australian branch of the hearing aid manufacturer may not be able to provide the full warranty or be able to offer full sales and service. Even if you’re able to find an extremely low price, find out what is being left out - is it a warranty? Is it after sales support? Supply of consumables?
Remember when air conditioning was an optional extra in cars? Or ABS? Or reversing cameras? Every new generation of cars has something which helps makes driving safer and more enjoyable.
It’s the same with hearing aids. Your five year old hearing aids might be okay, but it is well worth seeing what’s new - rechargeable hearing aids, Bluetooth connectivity, improved programming, faster chip sets.
So if you even if you think you don’t need new hearing aids, do book yourself in for a new hearing assessment and a hearing aid discussion. You might be surprised at how much of a difference it makes to your hearing.
Your hearing will change over time but it may not be all the fault of your ears.
Sometimes comprehension is the issue and how your brain processes sound.
If it’s been a while since you’ve had new hearing aids, you may not be aware of how that impacts on your overall ability to hear and process necessary sounds. If the auditory input your brain receives over time diminishes, the more difficult you’ll find speech comprehension.