Should You Repair or Replace Your Hearing Aids?

When you use hearing aids every day, you will find that – as with anything – they do tend to wear out. Issues with hearing aids can develop from sheer age and overuse. The most common problems include a reduction in sound quality, discoloration and a change in the way they fit. When you have these issues with your hearing aids, you’re more likely to wonder whether you should replace your hearing aids with a newer model or get the ones you have repaired. The best person to answer this question is your audiologist, but there are several factors that you should consider before you approach your audiologist for an appointment. Let’s take a look at them below.

How old are your hearing aids?

The question of whether you should repair or replace your hearing aids may come down to the age they are first. If yours are older than five years but have done you well all this time, you may be tempted to get a new pair and enjoy some of the new technology that comes with your hearing aids. Your hearing situation may well have changed in the last five years, too, and if this is the case you may benefit from different features and styles in a new hearing aid. It all depends on what you use your hearing aids for in the first place, as you can often get some great deals on newer hearing aids with your audiologist. When your hearing aids are pretty new but they seem to be working completely differently to the way that they are supposed to, you may find that it will be far too early to replace them, and cheaper to get them repaired with your audiologist. They will be able to work through that process with you, and they’ll take you through whether these new hearing aids work for your hearing needs, too.

Think about the fit

Hearing aid fittings are an imporotant aspect of getting your hearing aids, which means you’ll need to do this again if you choose to get new devices. Repairs can often be done pretty quickly in your audiologist’s office, including small alterations in the fit of your current device. Whether your ear anatomy has slightly changed or you’ve noticed the fit isn’t as custom as it was before, this type of repair won’t take too long. The last thing you want is to be without hearing aids in a social situation or at work while waiting for them to be replaced.

Are they working the way that they are supposed to?

Hearing aid fittings are designed to take you through the features of your hearing aids and tell you what to look out for to understand if they are working at all. If you understand how your hearing aids are supposed to work, you’re going to find you notice when things go wrong. Your hearing aids should have specific features that perform a certain way, and it can often be easier to replace them than try to go through the process of costly repairs if they’re not performing the way that they are supposed to. If you are dealing with issues with your hearing aids, you may want to consult your audiologist to see whether they can “diagnose” a problem. If there is one, they can tell you whether you should repair or replace your hearing aids – it all depends on your financial situation, too.

Is there a malfunction?

Your hearing aids should be working in the way that they did from your first audiologist appointment. When they were fitted and you were taken through the features, your audiologist should have been able to tell you how to fix the minor things yourself. If you notice that your hearing aids are not functioning the way they should, it may be worth replacing them with a whole new model if you don’t think they would be easily repaired.

Contact us today

You rely on your hearing aids to help you communicate during your day-to-day interactions. If you’re experiencing issues with your devices, you may notice how difficult these conversations have become. If your hearing aids are not working in the way they used to, contact our expert team at Grusecki Audiology & Hearing Aid Services at this phone number: 623-583-1737 will ensure that you can get your hearing aids working back to their best!