It's really surprising that hearing aids last as well as they do.
Hearing aids have sophisticated electronic components such as
miniature microphones, amplifiers, receivers and microprocessor
circuits. They're exposed to heat, perspiration, ear wax, humidity,
rain, hair spray and daily handling.
Hearing aid parts can wear
out, corrode or lose power just from normal wear and tear. This can
happen so gradually that you may not notice the loss of power or
increased distortion. Periodic cleaning of your hearing aids can
minimize repairs and extend their life.
The average life of a hearing aid is about five to seven years.
When considering whether it's time to replace your aids, you should
consider their age, advances in hearing aid technology and whether
your hearing has changed. Many people get new hearing aids while
their current ones are still functioning well so they have a good
set of "back-up" hearing aids.
