Sooner or later, all hearing aids will experience a problem. There are so many factors that prevent hearing aids from working continuously. These factors include:

  • Earwax: While produced naturally, it is a problem for hearing aids (particularly the tubing)
  • Moisture: Water is a hearing aid hazard, whether it is sweat or left over from a swim or shower
  • Accidents: Dropping, crushing, or stepping on your hearing aids can cause great damage
  • Everyday use: Constant, daily wear and tear contributes to breakdowns

Given these facts, the question arises: should you repair or replace your hearing aids? There are a number of factors to consider when answering this question.

Consider the cost

Naturally, cost will be one of the first considerations. New technological advances have led to the creation of hearing aids that are incredibly effective at restoring hearing. However, these newer hearing aids may cost quite a bit more than your existing ones. The cost to repair your existing hearing aids may be less than buying new ones, too. Consider whether your current hearing aids are under warranty and how much the cost will be to repair.  

Consider the age

Hearing aids have a general lifespan of four to six years. This doesn’t mean you may not be able to get more out of them, but with the constantly evolving technology, you may benefit more from an upgraded model. If your hearing aids require repairs and are more than five years old, you may want to consider how much it would cost to upgrade and if it’s worth the extra money.

If you’re still not sure what to do, discuss your options with the audiologist. Your audiologist will be able to tell you what kind of condition your current hearing aid is in, and whether or not there are new features or technologies available that you would benefit more from.

Talk to your audiologist

When your hearing aids begin to malfunction, it’s a good idea to take them to your audiologist to allow a professional to examine them. There are a number of small things that can cause hearing aids to not work properly, so your audiologist will be able to recognize these types of issues right away.

Additionally, your audiologist will be able to provide you with an estimate on repair costs (many can perform simple repairs onsite) and if it’s still under warranty. Your audiologist is your partner in hearing health, so they want to ensure you’re happy, whether that means new devices or simply repairing your hearing aids.