Hearing Aid Repair VS. Hearing Aid Replacement
Many people contact us regarding repairing hearing aids that are older vs. buying new hearing aids and what the best option is. While there are many factors to why you repair a hearing aid rather than buying a new one, we'll try to break it down to a few simple "rule of thumb" scenarios.
How old is your hearing instrument - over or under 5 years?
The age of a hearing aid is the best place to start when determining the repair vs. replacement factor of this decision. As a general rule of thumb, if your hearing aid is older than five years, replacement might be the best option. The reason for this is based on average lifespan of a hearing aid, general wear and tear, and the technology will be improved to such a degree that a new set will make a huge difference. Here are some averages we see for hearing aid life expectancy:
BTE hearing aids …………………………………............... 5 to 7 years is common
ITE or custom hearing aids ……………………….…...…. 4 to 5 years is common
Why do some hearing aids last longer than others? Click here for full explanation
I don’t have the money to buy a new set of hearing aids!
Obviously you have to look at the financial part of this decision. Repairing your hearing aids is going to be much cheaper than replacing them, but cheaper is not always better. Here is how to determine if the cost of repairing hearing aids is worth it. If your instruments are working very well for your needs and overall you’re happy with your instruments, repairing them is a good option and will save you a ton of money (hearing aid repair cost usually around $300 - $500 per hearing aid).
But lets pretend that you’re not happy with the aids for the reason of vanity (they’re too big or noticeable), they don’t provide good clarity of speech, or they simply don’t work well with your lifestyle; repairing them will not fix any of these problems and will most likely be a big waste of money. The biggest complaints with older hearing instruments are too much background noise and excessive feedback or whistling. Repairing an old hearing aid will not fix these issues.
Age isn’t the only factor – What type of wearer are you?
Hearing aid repair can also be a great option in addition to buying a new set of hearing aids. The reason for this is based on your lifestyle and dependency on the hearing instruments. For example, if you work full time, have an active lifestyle, or absolutely depend on the best hearing possible, having a back up set of hearing instruments is always a good idea. And since most local hearing aid providers will give you a discount on the hearing aid repair (some even do it for free or at cost) when you purchase a new set from them, it can really make it worth it.
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