An estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. Hearing aids can make everyday conversations easier, but your hearing needs may change over time. If you’ve started having trouble hearing clearly, you might wonder whether your current devices are still right for you. The good news is that you may not need to buy new ones right away.
Before deciding to replace your devices, it’s helpful to understand what’s causing the problem. In many cases, a hearing test or a few adjustments can help you hear more comfortably again.
Identifying the Source of New Hearing Difficulties
New hearing difficulties can arise for a few different reasons: your hearing loss has progressed, earwax or an ear infection is blocking the path of sound through your ears or your hearing aids need cleaning or repairs.
Your Hearing Aids May Only Need Adjustments
Before getting new hearing aids, find out whether your current devices can still meet your needs.
If earwax or an ear infection is behind your hearing difficulties, we can remove earwax safely, or you can wait for the ear infection to clear. Antibiotics will also clear stubborn ear infections.
We can address device-related issues at a service & repair appointment. During the appointment, we will clean your devices, remove moisture from them and check for damage that could be interfering with sound quality. We can also perform a hearing test and use the results to update your device settings. You may also be able to make small changes yourself. Depending on your hearing aid model, the smartphone companion app will let you adjust the volume or choose settings for different environments.
When Should You Consider New Hearing Aids?
Sometimes, adjustments aren’t enough. New hearing aids may be a better choice if your hearing loss has changed significantly and your current devices can no longer provide the support you need. You may also want to consider replacing them if they break frequently, require expensive repairs or lack features that could make listening easier.
Newer hearing aids offer improved sound processing, better ways to manage background noise and features that help you connect with your phone. The right choice depends on your hearing needs and daily activities. For example, if you spend a lot of time in crowded restaurants or busy work meetings, newer devices with better background noise processing could be helpful.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Hearing
If your hearing aids don’t seem to work as well as they once did, contact Today’s Hearing to schedule a repair and service appointment with one of our specialists.
Sources
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024). Quick statistics about hearing. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing