Harper Hearing Services Co. 480-719-3094

When to Replace a Hearing Aid

Hearing aids are expensive. Once you’ve

purchased a pair of hearing aids, you want that

investment to last as long as possible. The truth

of the matter, though, is that the average life

expectancy of hearing aids, according to most

manufacturers, is five to seven years. It’s been my experience

that a five to seven year life span is generous at best. Although

it’s true that you can extend the life of your hearing aids with

regular care and maintenance, in general you can plan to replace

each pair every three to five years and only every seven years if

luck is on your side.

So, how do you know when it’s time to replace your

hearing aids?

If you’ve been wearing the same hearing aid for more than a few

years, it may be time to discuss new technology with your

hearing healthcare provider. Hearing aid technology improves

rapidly. In fact, most of the top manufacturers will release a

significantly improved product over their previous generation

product approximately every 18 months. Most recently,

technology improvements have generally focused on improved

hearing in background noise, smaller packaging and wireless

connectivity. There have also been some amazing advancements

for those who experience ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, and

Harper Hearing Services Co. 480-719-3094

for single sided deafness. If you are unhappy with the sound

quality of your hearing aids or if you feel they aren’t able to

handle the listening situations you are most commonly exposed

to, it’s possible that new technology advancements will be able to

help. The best thing to do is to talk with your audiologist about

what’s new in hearing aids. She will be able to provide you with

the information you need to make an informed decision.

Another reason to replace your hearing aids is if they have

started to need more repairs. Hearing aids have mechanical

working parts. These parts will stop working at some point and

must be replaced in order to return the hearing aid back to

working condition. With an older hearing aid, especially those

over five years old, repairs become more frequent and this can

become cost prohibitive. In addition, older hearing aids may only

receive a 90-day or 6-month warranty on a repair. If the hearing

aid stops working again and the hearing aid is not covered under

warranty, you’ll have to pay another repair charge. In an older

hearing aid, saving money you would have spent on a repair and

investing it into a new, more advanced technology may be the

better long-term solution.

If you are thinking that it might be time to replace your hearing

aids, talk with your audiologist. It’s our pleasure to be able to

work alongside you to decide when or if it’s time to look into new

hearing aids. We’ll discuss with you the pros and cons of

Harper Hearing Services Co. 480-719-3094

replacement and the associated costs. And, in most cases, you

can listen to some of the new technology while you’re in the office

and decide what’s best for you. Call the office to make an

appointment. We’d be glad to help.

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