When to Upgrade Hearing Aids
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Dr. Julie Prutsman, Au.D.
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Sep 21, 2025
When and why should I consider upgrading my hearing aids? If your hearing has changed and the hearing technology has improved to a point where you can benefit from it, you should consider upgrading. Schedule an appointment for a hearing test to see if your hearing has changed and possibly test-drive new hearing aids to see if they can benefit you.
When to upgrade Hearing Aids?
Hearing technology changes regularly every 3-5 years, so that is the average lifespan of optimally performing hearing aids. Insurance companies know this, so we see hearing aid benefits on some insurance policies renewed every three years. The insurance companies understand that technology improves, hearing levels change, and hearing needs change as we age, and we need to accommodate those changes. So the question is, when to upgrade hearing aids?
Hearing Aid Warranties
Device warranties are typically three years. Once patients are out of warranty and the devices start to break, should you invest more in repairing what you have or consider the new, better technology? Six-month extended warranties are $250 per device, and one-year extended warranties are $325 per device.
Features of Improved Hearing Aids
The hearing aid technology is continuously improving in processing speed and hearing in background noise, which is the #1 complaint we get with hearing aid technology.
In complex listening environments, more technology is needed to help separate speech from noise. We need things like directional microphone technology and the new deep neural networks (DNN) in these computer chips in hearing devices that can help predict our needs at cocktail parties or big family gatherings.
AI is starting to be seen more in hearing aid technology. A prevalent form of artificial intelligence in most hearing technology involves integrating deep neural networks into the device’s signal classification system.
Polar Plots try to determine which speech we want to hear and which we do not. They pertain to a microphone’s directional characteristics or polar patterns, indicating its sensitivity to sound from various directions.
With that being said, a hearing aid does not have a brain, so it will not be perfect, but technology matters, and we are always looking for better technology, not perfect, but better.
Test-Drive New Technology at Sound Relief
The nice thing about Sound Relief is that we allow you to test-drive new technology when it becomes available. Prove to yourself that the latest technology is better and will help you more in complex listening environments.
You owe it to yourself to try new technology to see if it can significantly improve your quality of life. Can it help you participate better in groups? Can you go out to eat and enjoy that conversation more efficiently with better hearing aids?
Another benefit of upgrading your hearing aids with Sound Relief is that we provide loyalty discounts to our existing patients. They receive 10% off all our audiology services and devices.
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