Should You Repair Your Old Hearing Aid or Replace It?

One of the most common questions we hear is, “My hearing aid is damaged or is not functioning the same way it used to – do you think I should replace it and buy a new one, or have it fixed?” Provided with only that much information, we have to answer truthfully, “That depends.” It is really an individual choice, and the “correct answer” is as individual as the individuals who ask it.

It is worthwhile to state upfront, that all hearing aids, irrespective of their original price or quality, can be expected to break down at some point. Why? Primarily due to sustained use in an inhospitable environment containing moisture and ear wax. Ear wax is normal and necessary because it safeguards the sensitive lining of the outer ear, but it can be hard on hearing aids; water that is left in the ears after showering or swimming can be even harder on them. Additionally, there is always the chance of breakage from an accident or dropping the hearing aids, and the inner tubing and other parts inevitably wear out with time, so after several years you can count on your aids needing repair or replacement.

Likely the major thing you should consider when making the “repair or replace” decision is how you feel about your current hearing aids – do you like them, and the sound they deliver? If you like them and are familiar with the sound that they generate or really like the fit, repair could be the better option for you.

One more consideration, of course, is cost – brand new hearing aids might cost thousands of dollars, but fixing your present aids may cost only a couple of hundred dollars. The part we can’t answer in this article is the influence of insurance. A few insurance policies cover replacements, but not repairs or have different policies on full or partial coverage.

If you decide to pursue a repair, the next logical question is “Should I take them back to where I purchased them?”Although you could choose to deal with a remote repair laboratory directly, your local audiologist is a marvelous resource. To begin with, they can establish if repairs are in fact necessary. Second, they may be able to get the repairs done on-site decreasing the amount of time you do not have your hearing aid. For hearing aid repairs that cannot be completed locally, your hearing professional will take care of the shipping, paperwork and lab directions for you. Because they work in volume with suppliers, their prices may be the same or better than you could get yourself.

Far more options are open to those who choose to replace their existing hearing aids. It is advisable to be open-minded about new designs and technologies understanding that anything different takes some getting used to. Newer hearing aids are more compact and offer superior programability to achieve the sound quality you want. So the choice whether to “replace or repair” is still yours to make, but we hope this information will assist you.