Do you know of any other personal electronic device that can spend 12+ hours powered “on”, in a waxy and often humid environment, for years on end? Hearing aids have a great lifespan, about 5 years on average. In that time, it’s important to clean and maintain your hearing aids regularly to make sure your aids last as long as possible. As with any electronic, your hearing aids might require a repair at some point in its lifetime. Eventually, your hearing aids might require replacement. If your aids are in need of a repair and you are trying to decide whether to repair or replace, then this article is designed with you in mind.
TO REPAIR YOUR HEARING AIDS OR BUY NEW? THAT IS THE QUESTION
There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to repair or purchase new hearing aids. Perhaps your hearing aids are out of warranty and just are not working quite like they used to. That’s when you’ll need to decide whether a repair or a replacement is in order. If your aids are relatively new and require a quick repair, replacing would be quite unnecessary! On the flip side, if you’re still wearing an old analog set, it might be too costly or just not worth the inconvenience to repair.
When To Repair your Hearing Aids
One of the most important factors that will help you decide to repair your current hearing aids is if you really enjoy the listening experience they provide you and the repair cost is manageable. If you like the set you have, they fit comfortably and you’re hearing and understanding everyone around you, go for the repair. Often times, a repair can be performed on your aids while you wait at our practice. This is when your warranty, or any extended warranty you may have purchased will come in handy. Keep in mind that some repairs cost as much as a new set of hearing aids, especially with some of the older models. When you take your hearing aids to get looked at, you might see that the advancements in hearing aid technology are better suited for you.
When To Replace Your Aids
Sure, if it’s an easy fix, go for it. What if it’s not an easy fix? Hearing aids spend so much time in the “on” position and they operate in a hostile environment (your ears). Things like ear wax, dirt and moisture left over from swimming and bathing, can all have an impact on the way your hearing aids work. At some point, you may have an issue with how your hearing aid is functioning that just can’t be fixed. If your hearing aid has been exposed to water or your pet got to it, replacement is likely the only option. Look for features that will suit your lifestyle and hearing needs. There are features available today that were unheard of 5-10 years ago that may prove to suit your lifestyle and hearing needs even better than your broken pair! Communicate with your audiologist about your experience with your old hearing aids. Where do you wish you could hear better? Where do you find yourself struggling to understand? Do you with your aids were more discreet? Or that they could connect to your new iPhone? With all of the information available, we can recommend a new pair of hearing aids that are a dramatic improvement from the old and suit you perfectly.
If you live in Southern California and aren’t getting the best performance from your hearing aids, we invite to to visit our practice for an appointmnet with our friendly Doctor of Audiology. Dr. David DeKriek will take a look at what may be causing the issue and inform you of all of your choices for repair or replacement. Sometimes, it’s a quick fix that can be performed in-house. It is possible that you just need a professional cleaning or require new batteries. For more severe damage, it may require sending the aids to the manufacturer for a replacement piece and/or repair.
Dr. DeKriek is experienced at helping those in Cerritos decide whether to repair or replace their aids. He will guide you through all your options and answer any questions you might have. Keep in mind that addressing hearing aid underperformance or malfunction with your audiologist as soon as you notice it will keep a small problem from growing into something that can’t be fixed. Whether you choose to repair your old set or buy a new pair, we want to help provide the best hearing experience for you. Contact us today and we will get you scheduled with Dr. DeKriek right away.
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