How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?

Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist from Anthem AZ, discusses the 5 KEY FACTORS that can help you determine if you should get new Hearing Aids.

Website: https://www.DrCliffAuD.com

Clinic Website: https://www.AppliedHearingAZ.com

You can't determine how long hearing aids will work based on how many years you've had them. However, you can make a logical decision on when the time is right based on the following 5 KEY FACTORS:

1. Are your hearing aids capable of handling your hearing loss? - Hearing losses can change. Whether this is gradual or sudden, if you don't have a hearing aid capable of providing you will the level of amplification you need, you will need new hearing aids.

2. Will Insurance cover the cost? - Despite popular belief, more insurances are covering a portion of hearing aid costs. Some cover a significant portion of new hearing aids every few years.

3. Warranty & Repair costs - Most hearing aids come with a 1-3 year warranty. You can continue to extend the warranty, but this can get expensive. However, paying repair costs can be expensive if you are out of warranty. The last thing you want to do is pay high warranty & repair costs for old hearing aids when you could put that towards a new set.

4. Technology Improvements - Technology is continuously improving. When there is a new feature that will have a massive improvement on your ability to hear, it makes sense to consider it. When the made for iPhone technology was introduced, it dramatically improved hearing on the phone and music. When the Oticon OPN came out, it changed how well people could hear in background noise. To maximize the benefits of new technology, you need to make sure you have real ear measures performed. Watch my video of Real Ear Measures here:    • The Most Important HEARING AID Video ...  

5. Are you still in a service plan? - If you pre-paid for service in a "bundled" model of care, you don't want to purchase new hearing aids until you've exhausted your service plan. For instance, if you paid $8,000 for hearing aids and are promised 5 years of service, you shouldn't purchase new hearing aids sooner than 5 years. To avoid this issue, purchase your hearing aids "un-bundled" so you never over pay for service costs.

There are plenty of individuals who have old hearing aids that still meet their needs. On the other hand, there are individuals who have hearing aids for only a few years and require new ones.

It is your hearing care professionals job to ensure you have the best hearing treatment that meets your needs. Don't just assume they are trying to '"make more money" off of you. However, if they do recommend new technology, it needs to make sense.