Can Hearing Aids be Reused?

Hearing aids can be quite expensive and when you see cheap second-hand hearing aids for sale online, it is easy to be tempted into buying them. However, hearing aids are made specifically for the patient intending to use them. This means that they are molded to their inner ear and programmed for the right level of sound.

Though you can feasibly reuse a hearing aid, this is most likely going to turn out to be a much more expensive option than you might have thought as you will still need it to be reprogrammed and refitted to suit you. After all your efforts and trips to the audiologist, it will probably turn out to be cheaper to buy new.

The right type of hearing aid

The type of hearing aid that is best for you may not be the same as a reused hearing aid. There are a lot of different types that come with different fits and mechanisms. Some are better for some types of hearing loss as opposed to others. This means that while a hearing aid could be reused, unless it is perfectly suited to you, it won’t be tailored to your specific hearing loss.

When you visit an audiologist, they will look at the severity of your hearing loss, your lifestyle, preferences and budget needs, and recommend the appropriate style and model that will best accommodate you. If you try to reuse a hearing aid, you won’t have this customization that provides the best listening experience.

The perfect fit

For a hearing aid to work, you must have a perfect fit. This is because the hearing aid needs to be able to deliver sound to your inner ear without any interference. If your hearing aid doesn’t fit well, it is likely that it will whistle as the microphone feeds back.

You should attend a couple of fitting sessions to ensure that your hearing aid is comfortable and in full working condition. While the device may need to be a secure fit, it shouldn’t too tight in your ear. You will likely have an initial fitting with your audiologist, in addition to a follow-up appointment to make sure your experience has been positive.

Talk more with your audiologist about purchase options and payment plans when it comes to your hearing aid – you’ll be happy you got the right one for you and not just any available device.