Hearing aids can last for four to six years if you take care of them with regular maintenance and protection from moisture and earwax. However, how old is your hearing aid?
If it’s too outdated, it may be time for a replacement. Here are three things you need to ask yourself before making decision to replace your hearing aids:
Your hearing aids will need to be replaced over time because of environmental elements. If your hearing aids are not working well, you should first get them cleaned by an audiologist. However, if they’re still not functional after they’ve been cleaned, it may be time to purchase new ones.
In the article, they say priorities when considering when to replace your hearing aids. Here are their three priorities:
(1) Can you drive and use speaker phone?
(2) Can you hear during regular conversations or at a party?
(3) Do you hear low-pitched sounds like regular human conversation and finger snapping?
If you answer yes to all of these questions, then you can keep your hearing aids. However, if the problem doesn’t lie with the hearing aid, it Is possible that your hearing has deteriorated further. You may need to get a hearing test to determine if you should get the hearing aid replaced or a little readjustment.
It depends on what more you want from your hearing aids. As your needs change when it comes to hearing aids, you should consult with your provider or hearing professional on new technology. Today’s hearing aid settings include preprogrammed functions such as settings for a party so that background noise can be lowered and conversations can be had more easily. Speak with your provider about the most upgraded model that will suit your needs.
You should generally replace your hearing aids when they’re no longer serving their purpose. This could be because they’ve stopped functioning or you can tell it’s impacting your hearing condition in some way. It’s important to realise that this isn’t enough though – even if your hearing aid is functional, it might not result in optimal results for you and in some cases, it will need to be replaced completely.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aids Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Before buying your hearing aids online, make sure to consult an audiologist first for a hearing aids prescription. This is what will accurately identify if you do need a hearing aid. This can’t be done on your own and is why visiting the audiologist previously is important before making the purchase.
Here are five reasons to avoid buying your hearing aid online:
Buying Hearing Aids at a local store insures you will get the right fit and the best quality for your needs. Hearing care professionals make a selection based on different factors such as your age, hearing needs, cosmetic needs, budget and the type of hearing aid that suits your personal need.
You have high odds of getting the wrong product online. By visiting a hearing care professional, you can increase your odds of finding a comfortable and exclusive hearing aid suitable for you.
Device customization may be the reason not to buy hearing aids online. Every person has a different hearing threshold (audiogram) and a particular shape of the ear canal. Hence, it should consider how it measures up to an audiogram as well as the size and shape of what is going into the ear canal. The hearing aid you buy should be programmed for your specific hearing needs and the environment around. These factors should be given special attention and incorporated in the final decision when buying a hearing aid.
Buying hearing aids online can be a risky proposition. Without a qualified hearing professional, you may not have anybody to help out in the future when the device needs programmed on a DIY basis.
Most hearing aid manufacturers do not offer warranties for products bought online. In fact there is a clear disclaimer on many websites and other marketing materials that buying a hearing aid from an online store might void the warranty.
You could save money by buying your hearing aids offline. If you buy your cheaper ones through a professional audiologist for a certain amount of time, you can enjoy free services such as instrument fitting and follow-up visits.
On the other hand, if a device is bought online and not through a hearing professional, you have to pay every time you need help. These visits often end up costing far higher than the amount you save on buying hearing aids online.
Moreover, it could damage your hearing even more if the hearing aid does not fit perfectly. Hence, you are not suggested to buy a hearing aid without consulting an audiologist. If you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, don’t hesitate to contact us for a hearing aid prescription and proper diagnosis.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aids Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
One of the biggest questions people with hearing loss ask is if it’s possible to buy a hearing aid without a hearing aids prescription. Unfortunately, though getting a hearing aid may not be as cut and dry as it may seem, you still always need to consult a physician before shopping for one.
You need a prescription before you can buy a hearing aid. Hearing aids are small electronic devices that improve your hearing.
It’s often recommended to take a hearing test first in order to obtain a prescription for a hearing aid. Hearing tests are evaluated with various equipment and software used to measure your hearing acuity.
There may be multiple hearing tests or some of them:
The first step before getting a hearing aid is getting your hearing assessed by an audiologist. Tests are often done in order to rule out other underlying conditions, including inner ear infections or wax buildup in the ear canal. They may also perform more in-depth testing in order to assess the severity of the condition.
There are many tests an audiologist can administer to make sure you’re not experiencing any processing issues before you purchase a hearing aid, including testing your hearing for accuracy. They can also feed you some suggestions on what to do if you do need treatment.
There are two classes of hearing aid. One for severe or profound hearing loss, and one for when you have simple wax build-up. Before purchasing a hearing aid without consulting the audiologist, note the severity of your hearing issues.
After a consultation at the audiologist’s office and the prescription you need, it’s time to find a hearing aid that will fit your lifestyle. The type of hearing aid you need depends on what’s more comfortable and the severity of your hearing loss.
With a bit of research, there are a few different options to chose from. Unlike many other hearing aids, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with your audiologist so they can make sure it works properly and set features such as volume control.
While hearing aids can be a great help for many people who have difficulty hearing, they are a medical device. Even though they do not require a prescription, individuals should still consult a doctor to get the correct diagnosis and decide whether or not a hearing aid is right for them.
You cannot buy a hearing aid without consulting an audiologist, so if you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, don’t hesitate to contact us for a proper diagnosis.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aids Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
When the decision is set to get yourself a hearing aid, think of it as a necessary investment just like a car; it gives comfort to your daily life. Proper maintenance and the correct usage of that investment is directly proportional to its life.
With a hearing aid, its lifespan will stretch longer than the average when proper maintenance is observed. And the average lifespan of a hearing aid is between three to seven years which is generally accepted by specialist and manufacturers.
To achieve a longer life for your device, perform the hearing aid maintenance below:
Do not leave your aid in direct sunlight or in high temperature enclosures. Such habit will warp the plastic casing and affects severely the fitting into your ear canal.
Seawater is a rust accelerator and does not make any exception of your ear device. Remove your device and keep it safe in its casing if your prime aim is to lengthen its age.
For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid prescription, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com
Upon the recommendation of an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist, or even just a hearing aid specialist, that you need to have a hearing aid, it is best to consider several things before you purchase one.
The market is replete with different styles of hearing devices for all ages, infants to seniors.
To resolve your hearing deficiency, your choice will be essentially in coordination with any of the three ear/hearing specialist mentioned earlier.
Ear Professionals
At the top is the physician called an otolaryngologist who focusses on ear, nose, and throat (ENT) complications in a medical sense. These specialized physicians can dispense medical advice with regards to your ear but may not fit hearing aids themselves.
The audiologist, with competence equal to that of the previous, is specific to hearing loss only. They may be found in the clinic of an ENT physician.
The hearing aid specialist may be the least among the three but is certified and as experienced as the preceding two. The road to become one, however, is as varied as the state they may wish to practice in.
Hearing Aid Styles
Right from there, it is all your choice of picking the professional and the hearing aid that best suits you. Luckily for you, the present level of technology has packed many of the features of the analog past to the digital present.
The hearing care professional will suggest a hearing aid for you in consideration of your age and the usual environment you are in. A rural setting is different from an urban one in auditory sense.
There are five styles of hearing aids to chose that conforms to your aesthetics and, of course, your budget. These five are labelled with three initials that tell you where they are located.
If you think you need hearing aids, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
https://www.hkhearingspeech.com