So, it’s not very often that you use your hearing aids? Maybe you put them in when you go to a party or go to the theater, but otherwise, you leave them in the drawer. Do you actually need to wear them more often than that?
Over time, you create problems for yourself if you’re not wearing your hearing aids regularly and that’s an issue. You could irreversibly harm your hearing. Social isolation and cognitive decline could be the result. Your general health could be affected. So, if you aren’t wearing your hearing aids, you should certainly pay attention to this.
Why Aren’t Your Hearing Aids in Your Ears?
If your hearing aids are stored in a nightstand drawer somewhere, you likely have an excuse. You might have decided to keep those reasons to yourself. Perhaps you evade the questions from your family when they ask why you’re not wearing them.
Certainly, though, there’s more to it than that. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll most likely find that there’s a particular grievance at the heart of your infrequent hearing aid use. Specific issues are positive because they generate the possibility to find an equally specific solution.
Here are some of the most common complaints;
“My Hearing Aids Don’t Feel Comfortable”
One of the most frequently mentioned reasons that people discontinue wearing their hearing aids normally is discomfort. Perhaps the hearing aid won’t stop falling out of your ear. Or maybe your over-the-ear model irritates just the wrong spot, causing tenderness and pain.
Hearing aids aren’t supposed to be uncomfortable, so if they’re causing irritation of any sort, something is definitely wrong. And it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to use a piece of technology that creates soreness, pain, or frustration.
Possible solution: If your hearing aids are not comfortable, consider scheduling an additional or follow-up fitting appointment. It’s quite possible that the way your hearing aid fits just needs a few quick adjustments. The size and shape of your ear can even be the foundation of a complete customization of some designs. You will be able to leave your hearing aid in longer if it fits well and is comfortable.
I’m Experiencing Poor Quality Sound From my Hearing Aids
Maybe you don’t wear your hearing aids regularly because you experiencing the sound to be tinny or fuzzy. It’s not shocking that you’ve decided to put your hearing aids away for a special occasion, if that’s the situation.”
This tinny or fuzzy sound can happen because hearing aids are performing complicated auditory processes all the time, filtering out some sounds while trying to amplify others. So the sound quality might seem unreliable if your settings aren’t properly tweaked.
Solution: There are two possible answers to this issue: maintenance and calibration. Your hearing aids could be damaged in some form or another and need to be
repaired. But your hearing specialist can do a quick calibration which is all your hearing aids may need.
Voices Are Muffled With my Hearing Aids
You need to hear voices with clarity. When you first purchased hearing aids that was the whole reason! You needed to be certain you didn’t miss out on any relevant conversations. So it could be a little bit discouraging if all the voices you hear when your wearing you’re hearing aid sound muffled or hard to comprehend.
Because your brain and ears aren’t communicating very well anymore, this problem normally happens when you first get your hearing aids.
Solution: Practice. Understanding what people are saying is something your brain will need to get used to, so putting yourself in a position to hear people conversing regularly will be helpful. Try reading along with an audiobook or reading along with the closed captioning while watching NCIS. Another way to get some good practice is simply by having discussions with people you come in contact with.
Getting Solutions
The point is that no matter what your reason for not wearing your hearing aids might, there is an answer somewhere. And you need to wear your hearing aid consistently in order to protect your cognitive health and the well being of your hearing.
So if you’re not wearing your hearing aids? Identify the issue and come up with a solution, so you can get involved in your life again. If you believe your hearing aids require adjustment, consult your hearing care specialist as soon as possible.