As many as 85% of Americans who suffer from hearing loss could benefit from wearing hearing aids. Hearing aids enable people with hearing loss to communicate more effectively and continue to do the things they enjoy. With the cost ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per hearing aid, a common question people have is whether they can wear used hearing aids.
Every person’s hearing is unique to them, so when it comes to hearing aids, there are two important factors to consider, the physical fit of the hearing aid and the technology within the used hearing aid itself.
85%
As many as 85% of Americans who suffer from hearing loss could benefit from wearing hearing aids.
There are two basic types of hearing aids:
BTE hearing aids are the largest type of hearing aid available. You wear the hearing aid case, containing the microphone, receiver, and processor, behind your ear and a tube or a wire connected to an earmold fits in the ear canal. While BTE hearing aids use a custom earmold which is likely to be different from the ear of a new user, the actual hearing aid itself can be reused with new custom earmolds.
The device, however, will need to be reprogrammed by a hearing care professional to ensure it fits with the new user’s specific hearing needs. This makes BTE hearing aids a better option for reusing, depending on the technology of the hearing aid.
While some BTE hearing aids can be repurposed, the technology available with the aid must be appropriate for the new user. This technology relates to programming capability, power source, the circuit and also how well the hearing aid works. A hearing care professional will need to assess whether the technology is appropriate for your precise hearing needs.
With technology continuously evolving, there is the possibility that the technology built into a used hearing aid is now out of date, which could limit its effectiveness and performance. While a used hearing aid may benefit your hearing, you may find more benefit from a model that incorporates the very latest hearing aid technology.
An important factor to keep in mind if you are considering a second-hand hearing aid is its condition. The used hearing aid could have been worn for several years already by the previous user and it may have gradually deteriorated over time. There is also the possibility that it hasn’t been cleaned and serviced as regularly as it should, so it may not be as hygienic as you would expect from a new hearing aid.
The likelihood that the shape of your ear and your specific hearing needs are exactly the same as someone else’s is slim – this means that a used hearing aid may not be appropriate for you. However, to determine if the hearing aids are suitable for your specific type of hearing loss, schedule a hearing evaluation with a hearing care professional.
They will be able to determine whether the second-hand hearing aids fit you properly and will help to improve your hearing.
It should also be noted, however, that most hearing professionals do not recommend wearing used hearing aids. In addition, they will charge for the time/work involved in making the used hearing aids function for the new user.
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