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Things to Consider in the Hearing Aid Repair or Replace

Decision

One of the most common questions

we hear is, “My older hearing aid is

broken or isn’t working the same

way it used to – do you think I

should buy a new one, or have it

repaired?” The honest answer has to

be, “It depends.” Deciding between

repair or replace doesn’t have a one

right answer. It really depends on

the situation and the requirements of

the individual asking the question.

It is worth stating upfront, that all hearing aids, without regard for their

original quality or price, can be expected to stop working sooner or later.

Why does this happen? Mostly because of continued use in an inhospitable

environment containing ear wax and moisture. Ear wax is generated

naturally, and we need it because it safeguards the lining of our ear canals,

but it can “gum up the inner workings” of hearing aids; likewise, lingering

moisture is normal after swimming or showering, but it too can harm

hearing aids. Add to these 2 factors breakage (from accidentally dropping

the aids on a hard surface) and natural wear and tear (as inner tubing or

components wear out), and you can safely bet that eventually your hearing

aid will require either repair or replacement.

One of the things that should most influence your decision to “replace or

repair” is whether you like your present hearing aids. If you like them and

are familiar with the sound that they produce or really like the fit, repair

could be the better option for you.

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Another thing to consider, naturally, is price – while a new

pair of hearing aids might cost thousands of dollars, your existing hearing

aids may cost only a few hundred dollars to fix. This monetary concern can

be influenced by insurance, however, which in some cases covers

replacement hearing aids, but won’t pay to have existing hearing aids fixed.

Another common question that comes up if you decide to have your hearing

aids repaired is, “Do I return them to the store where I bought them, or

send them to a repair lab myself?” While online advertisers will try to

position your local audiologist as nothing more than a middle-man, that’s not

accurate. There are many advantages to staying nearby. To begin with, they

can establish if repairs are in fact needed. Second, they might be able to get

the repairs completed on-site reducing the length of time you do not have

your hearing aid. For hearing aids that do require laboratory or manufacturer

repairs, the office will manage all the paperwork for you. Don’t assume the

price will be higher for these value-added services, because hearing

professionals deal with repair labs in larger volumes.

If you choose to replace your hearing aids, more options are available to

you. Take some time to educate yourself about the technical innovations

since the last time you purchased and be open to newer models. Newer

digital hearing aids have more features that may help your hearing and can

be more readily set to work the way you need them to. In the end, the

“repair or replace” question cannot be answered by anyone besides you.