When you invest in your hearing health, you want to know how long your new devices will serve you. People often ask us about the average lifespan of hearing aids and what they can do to protect them. The answer depends on a few different factors, including how well you care for your devices and how quickly technology advances.
Most people replace their hearing aids every three to four years. Sometimes, they can last five to seven years with excellent care. Usually, people choose to replace them because the overall performance is no longer optimal or because the rechargeable battery has started dying.
Because these devices only last so long, understanding proper maintenance is essential. Learning how to clean and store them correctly will help you get the most out of your hearing aids. Once they reach the end of their lifespan, upgrading to new technology can significantly enhance your daily experience.
Why your ears are a tough place for hearing aids
To understand why hearing aids have a limited lifespan, you need to consider where they live. Your ears create a surprisingly harsh environment for delicate technology. Your ear canal is warm and humid. It’s a place where sweat, moisture, and earwax naturally accumulate throughout the day. Your body produces earwax to protect your ear canal from dust and foreign particles. While this wax is great for your bodily health, it’s harsh on electronic devices.
Moisture is the primary enemy of any circuit board. When you wear hearing aids for 12 to 16 hours a day, they’re in direct contact with sweat and humidity from your skin. Natural skin oils also seep into tiny crevices. Over time, this combination of wax, oil, and moisture can degrade your hearing aids.
Think about other electronics you own. You probably keep your computer on a dry desk and your television in a living room. Your smartphone likely has a case and screen protector to help protect it, but still only lasts so long. Your hearing aids go with you everywhere. They face rain, wind, dust, heat, and constant physical movement. Because of this repeated exposure, even the most durable materials will eventually wear out.
Essential tips for making your hearing aids last
Taking a few minutes each day to clean and dry your devices will go a long way towards keeping them functioning for years. Here are the best ways to care for your hearing aids.
Give replaceable batteries extra attention
If you use hearing aids with replaceable batteries, you need to manage the battery door carefully. It allows moisture, dust, and grime to get inside.
Open the battery doors every single night. This simple habit allows fresh air to circulate through instead of trapping harmful moisture inside overnight. It also saves your battery power for the next day.
Use a dehumidifier every night
Since moisture causes so much damage, removing it is a top priority. Put your hearing aids in a dedicated dehumidifier before you go to sleep. A hearing aid dehumidifier is a small container that draws out the sweat and humidity your devices absorb during the day.
You can find inexpensive drying cups with desiccant beads or invest in an electronic dryer that sanitizes the devices while removing moisture.
Establish a daily cleaning routine
Wiping down your hearing aids every day prevents wax and oil from building up. Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the outer casing every morning. Morning is the best time for cleaning because any wax on the device has had hours to dry and flake off easily.
Along with your daily routine, you should take your hearing aids to your hearing care provider a couple of times a year for a deep clean. Professionals have special tools that remove debris you can’t reach yourself.
Change your wax guards monthly
Many hearing aids feature a filter called a wax guard. This small screen catches earwax before it enters the electronic components. When the wax guard gets clogged, your hearing aids might sound muffled. You should change your wax guards monthly to keep the sound clear and protect the internal wiring.
Store them in a safe place
When your hearing aids aren’t in your ears, they need a secure home. Store them in a safe place away from pets and children. Cats and dogs can easily chew them to pieces. And hearing aids are a choking hazard for babies and kids.
Make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight as well. Prolonged sun exposure and high heat can degrade the plastic outer shells and damage the coatings. Make a habit of taking your hearing aids off and putting them in the exact same place every time. This routine ensures you don’t misplace them.
Recognizing when it’s time to upgrade
Even with perfect care, your hearing aids will eventually age. The physical components break down, and the technology becomes outdated. Many people choose to replace their hearing aids every three to four years to take advantage of new features. If your current devices constantly need repairs or no longer help you in noisy situations, consider looking at new models.
The hearing aid industry moves fast. Engineers develop better microchips and software every single year. When you hold onto a pair of hearing aids for eight or more years, you miss out on massive leaps in sound quality. Upgrading every few years ensures you always have the best tools to connect with your loved ones.
How new technology enhances your experience
You’ll find that the latest hearing aids offer incredible benefits. Today’s devices are smarter, tougher, and more reliable than the models sold just five years ago. Here are a few ways the latest technology can transform your daily life.
Improved rechargeable battery capacity
Rechargeable battery technology is getting much better. In the past, rechargeable hearing aids struggled to hold a full charge after a couple of years of heavy use. Now, battery capacity is significantly increased.
Today’s hearing aids are capable of more charging cycles before they start to degrade. That means rechargeable hearing aids can last longer now. You can enjoy a full day of listening and streaming without worrying about your batteries dying in the middle of a conversation.
Better durability with IP86 coatings
Manufacturers understand that hearing aids live in a tough environment. To combat sweat and dust, they’ve developed stronger protective seals. The newest IP86 coatings protect against water and dust exceptionally well.
An IP rating measures how effectively a device resists solid objects and moisture. An IP86 rating means the hearing aid is highly protected against dust and can withstand heavy splashes of water. These advanced coatings mean hearing aids are more durable than ever before. You can feel confident wearing them while it’s raining or during an intense workout.
Smarter technology
Background noise has always been the biggest challenge for people with hearing loss. Thankfully, hearing aids keep getting better. For example, the new TruHearing® 7 Plus, built with Signia® IX technology, is the world’s first hearing technology capable of pinpointing individual voices in group situations. These hearing aids update 1,000 times per second!
Many manufacturers also use artificial intelligence (AI) to process sound. This AI is trained using real-world situations. By analyzing crowded rooms, busy streets, and quiet living rooms, the AI learns how to categorize different sounds. This makes new hearing aids even smarter at identifying distracting background noise versus the sounds you want to hear. As a result, you can sit in a crowded restaurant and focus entirely on the person sitting across from you.
Superior streaming with Bluetooth® Classic
Connecting to your digital devices is a massive benefit of modern hearing aids. You can stream phone calls, music, and TV directly into your ears. However, not all Bluetooth technology performs the same way.
New TruHearing hearing aids feature Bluetooth Classic, which performs better than Bluetooth LE in hearing aids. It provides a more stable, robust connection to a wide variety of devices. This makes it even easier to connect and stream seamlessly from both older and newer laptops, smartphones, and tablets. You don’t have to worry about dropped signals or choppy audio during an important phone call.
Frequently asked questions about hearing aid longevity
We want to make sure you have all the information you need to care for your hearing health. Here are a few common questions people ask.
Can I make my hearing aids last ten years?
While it’s technically possible for a hearing aid to function for a decade, it’s highly unlikely. The physical components degrade over time due to moisture and earwax. Furthermore, a ten-year-old hearing aid will have severely outdated technology. You’d struggle to hear clearly in noisy environments compared to someone using a newer device.
Does my hearing change over time?
Yes, your hearing can change as you get older. A hearing aid programmed for your hearing loss five years ago might not provide enough amplification for you today. Regular hearing exams ensure your devices always match your current hearing profile. Upgrading your hearing aids as needed gives you access to more powerful technology.
What should I do if my hearing aid gets wet?
If you accidentally wear your hearing aids in the shower or a pool, don’t panic. Remove them immediately and dry the outside with a clean towel. Open any battery doors. Place the devices in your dehumidifier for several hours. Never use a hair dryer or oven to dry them, as high heat will damage your hearing aids.
Are rechargeable hearing aids better than battery-operated ones?
Neither option is strictly better, but they serve different needs. Rechargeable models are incredibly convenient because you simply place them in a charger at night. You don’t have to deal with battery doors that let in moisture or battery packaging that’s hard to open. However, battery-operated models are great for people who might not have access to a wall outlet for charging.
Is it time for new hearing aids?
Your hearing aids are a vital part of your daily life. By following a consistent maintenance routine, you can protect them from the harsh environment of your ear. Regular cleaning, safe storage, nightly dehumidifying, and routine visits with your hearing care provider will help you get years of excellent performance.
When your devices begin to wear down, or when you find yourself struggling in noisy rooms, it might be time for a change. New features offer a listening experience that older models simply can’t match. You deserve to hear every laugh, every story, and every note of your favorite music with perfect clarity.
If you think it’s time to upgrade your hearing aids, contact TruHearing to set up a hearing exam appointment.