Top Signs You Need to Update Your Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are designed to work alongside your lifestyle, and outside of daily cleaning, battery replacement and good storage, they’re relatively low-maintenance devices. After a few months of having them, you’ll no doubt forget you’re even wearing them and just get used to the routine. But hearing aids do not last forever. While hearing aids are designed to serve many purposes and can greatly improve your quality of life, they may not meet every specific lifestyle need.

For this reason, there are several signs that you need to be aware of as this can help you to understand when to update your hearing aids.

Changing Hearing Needs

Hearing loss can progress over time, and what worked well for you in the past might not be as effective now. You may start to notice that your hearing aid is providing feedback or isn’t properly tuned to meet your hearing needs anymore. In this case, it’s a good idea to schedule a hearing test with your hearing health professional. They can determine whether your current hearing aids can be adjusted to better suit your needs, or if it’s time for a newer model that offers more precise sound. They can also help identify whether the change is due to a shift in your hearing or the aging of your device.

Changing Ear Shape and Size

As individuals age, their bodies undergo changes and that includes our ears. Factors like weight changes can affect the size and shape of your ears, which may impact how well your hearing aids fit. If your hearing aids begin to feel uncomfortable or no longer sit securely, it could be a sign that your ear shape has changed since your last fitting. In this case, it may be a good idea to have your earmolds adjusted or redone to ensure a better fit.

Reduced Functionality or Operational Errors

As with any electronic device, hearing aids can start to show signs of wear and tear over time or may glitch and experience errors. If you’re experiencing frequent issues like audio feedback, crackled sound, reduced sound quality or inconsistent audio, this could be a sign that your hearing aids are no longer functioning as they should or that damage has caused them issues, perhaps sustained water damage for example. This is a sign that your hearing aid needs updated. Talk with your hearing health professional about what you be best for you.

Unexpected Damage

Even with the best care, accidents can easily happen. If your hearing aids are damaged, and that might include dropping them, water exposure or some other issue – it’s important to get them checked out as soon as possible. Sometimes, minor damage can be repaired, but in other cases, replacement might be the better option.

If your hearing aids have had unexpected damage or your hearing has changed, schedule an appointment with a hearing health professional. They will talk to you about updating your hearing aids. These are just a few signs, if you want to learn more about hearing aids, contact a hearing health professional.