What Is the Lifespan of a Hearing Aid?

About 28 million people suffer some level of hearing loss, according to the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Only about 5 to 10 percent of hearing loss problems can be surgically or medically treated in adults. Fortunately, people can wear hearing aids to improve hearing comprehension and achieve a normal lifestyle.

Features

• A hearing aid is a tiny device that is worn in or behind the ear. There are three simple parts including a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker. The microphone picks up the sound, the amplifier makes the sound louder and the speaker transmits the amplified sound into the ear.

Types

• Sound waves

  The different types of digital and analog hearing aids are behind the ear, in the ear and in the canal. Analog hearing aids can be conventional or programmable (adjusting to different levels of sound). Digital hearing aids convert sounds waves into electrical signals and provide the most distinct listening environment.

Cost

• As of 2010, prices range from hundreds of dollars to more than $2,500 for a single hearing aid. Digital hearing aids are more expensive than analog hearing aids because of the advanced electronic circuitry and features.

Lifespan

• Hearing aids generally last about five years. The better care taken with the hearing aids, the longer the hearing aids will last. Moisture and earwax interfere with the working components of hearing aids over time. Behind-the-ear hearing aids tend to have a longer lifespan.

Care and Maintenance

• According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the life expectancy of hearing aids can be extended with proper care and maintenance. Be sure to clean the hearing aids as instructed by the audiologist. Hairsprays and other aerosol products should be avoided when wearing hearing aids. If not being used, turn off the hearing aids. Immediately replace dead batteries with new batteries.