You know it's time to replace your hearing aid if you're walking around with one of those old-fashioned ear trumpets. Coming to that realization when you wear conventional hearing aids is more difficult, though, so how do you know? You bought your hearing aids ten years ago, and they still do the job, right?

Maybe you are better off having older hearing aids than not having one, what's the real price? Hearing aid tech has advanced in the last few years. It’s advanced from analog to digital, to begin with, and there are functions now that weren’t even invented 10 years ago. Start thinking about some reasons why you should be thinking about an upgrade.

Old Hearing Aids Are Not Very Reliable

Older or even poor-quality hearing aids have serious issues like that annoying buzz you hear every now and then. How about that feedback whenever you get close to a phone, that’s enjoyable. That deafening feedback occasionally occurs for no noticeable reason. What caused it now?

You've Become Desensitized to its Low Quality

You're used to sitting in quiet self-reflection while everybody around you take part in conversation or wondering why the air conditioner is so noisy. Remember the time your grandchild sang you a great song she learned at school, but you could only hear parts of her song because your hearing aids kept going out. You still clapped, though.

These are all weaknesses associated with outdated hearing aids. Ten years ago the emphasis was on turning up the volume. Nowadays, unwanted noise can be filtered out and modern hearing aids can do lots of other truly awesome things.

The Old Ones Are Wasting Money

When you're thinking about a hearing aid upgrade, expense is a major consideration. You will have to make an initial purchase with new hearing aids but older ones will also be costly over time. You will be constantly replacing batteries when you have an analog hearing aid. You can imagine how costly it will be, replacing batteries at least once a day.

Repair costs can also soar with older hearing aids. If you think of your hearing aid like a 1992 Buick, you'll get the point. Repairs are expensive and it's constantly in the repair shop.

Smart Tech is a Thing Now

Most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth capabilities. You won’t find that in an analog unit. Having Bluetooth integrated into your digital hearing aid means that it’s compatible with your computer, your phone, perhaps even your tv (unless they're ten years old, as well.)

Communication is The Key to Everything

Studies show that hearing loss can mean a lower paycheck. So it's apparent that it would be an asset to your career if you had newer hearing aids. You will be able to hear your boss and customers better. You will follow directions without wondering if you got it right and have important discussions without worrying about whether your hearing aids will hold up or not.

Obviously, better communication means a better quality of life, too. You don’t need to sit like a wallflower during discussions anymore. Feel free to get right in and connect with others.

You Just Want Your Hearing Aid to be More Stylish

How do you feel when you check yourself out in the mirror wearing that old hearing aid? Awkward? Totally obvious? Does this make me look old? Flexibility and style are some of the most considerable reasons to upgrade your hearing aid. Contemporary hearing aids come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. You can wear a visible one in your favorite color or an internal one hidden from sight inside your ear.

Clues That It’s Time

Now you recognize why a hearing aid upgrade is worthwhile, now it's time to determine what makes a hearing aid outdated. Here are a few telling signs that the time has come:

There are changes in your hearing. Even when you have your hearing aids in, it seems as if you can't hear as well.
Your old hearing aid just can't keep up with your changing life. Every time you have to talk on the phone, you have to remove it and background noise has become a big issue.
Your hearing aid keeps cutting out. You just can't count on it working when you need it most.
It's obvious that you have an analog device. Ouch, go digital right away.
Your ears feel heavy. Clunky, old technology weighs a lot.
Your hearing aid is the only thing you see when you look in a mirror. Back when that old hearing aid was new, technology was much larger.
You constantly have to change the batteries. Contemporary hearing aids are more energy efficient, and some are rechargeable.

It’s not rocket science. If you’ve had your hearing aids for seven years or more, it's time to upgrade and hear better.