Woman wearing hearing aids enjoys a hike with friends.

So you don’t use your hearing aids regularly? Perhaps you put them in when you go to a party or go to the theater, but in most cases, you leave them in the drawer. Do you really need to use them more often than that?

The concern is that when you don’t wear your hearing aids regularly, you’re developing some troubling disadvantages for yourself over the long term. You could harm your hearing permanently. Social isolation and cognitive decline could be the consequences. Your overall health could be affected. This content will help you understand why you should be wearing your hearing aids.

Why Aren’t Your Hearing Aids in Your Ears?

If your hearing aids are sitting unused in a nightstand drawer somewhere, you most likely have a reason. Sure, maybe you haven’t exactly been forthcoming about what those reasons might be. Maybe, when your family questions you, you might even say something generic and evasive, such as, “I just don’t like them”.

Stilted dialogue to the side, we know that’s not the complete story, right? Normally, there’s a specific reason why you’re not using your hearing aids. Specific grievances are good because they generate an opportunity to find an equally specific remedy.

What follows are some of the most frequent grievances;

“My Hearing Aids Aren’t Very Comfortable”

Discomfort is one of the most frequently reported reasons for people not using their hearing aids. Often, the hearing aid won’t stop falling out of your ear. Or maybe pain and tenderness are developing in just the wrong spot with your over-the-ear model.

It’s not supposed to be uncomfortable to use hearing aids, so something is most definitely not right if they’re causing any sort of discomfort. And soreness, frustration, and pain are not things you would desire from any piece of technology.

Possible solution: If you’re not comfortable with your hearing aids, consider scheduling an additional or follow-up fitting appointment. It’s entirely possible that the way your hearing aid fits simply requires a couple of quick alterations. Some models can even be completely customized to the size and shape of your ears. You will be capable of leaving your hearing aid in longer if it fits well and is comfortable.

My Hearing Aid Has Poor Sound Quality

Perhaps you experience the sound of your hearing aid to be too fuzzy or tinny so you don’t wear them that often. It’s not surprising that you’ve decided to put away your hearing aids for a special occasion, if that’s the case.”

This tinny or fuzzy sound can happen because hearing aids are performing complicated auditory functions at all times, amplifying some sounds while filtering out others. So if your settings aren’t properly tweaked, the sound quality may seem unreliable.

Solution: There are two potential solutions to this difficulty: maintenance and calibration. Your hearing aids may be broken in some way or another and require repairing. But it’s also possible that they just need a simple calibration (generally this is something your hearing specialist can take care of for you).

When I Use my Hearing Aid Voices Seem Muffled

You need to hear voices clearly. When you first bought hearing aids that was the whole point! You didn’t want to miss out on a single word. So if all the voices you hear are difficult to comprehend and are muffled it could be a bit frustrating.

This usually happens when you first use your hearing aids because your brain and ears aren’t necessarily used to communicating very well anymore (it’s like they had a falling out or something).

Solution: Practice. Comprehending conversations is something your brain will need to become accustomed to, so anything you can do to get some repetition will help. Try reading along with closed caption to your favorite program or along with an audiobook. Another way to get some positive practice is by simply having discussions with people you come in contact with.

Finding Solutions

You can find a solution no matter what the reason you’re not using your hearing aid. And you need to use your hearing aid consistently in order to protect your cognitive health and the well being of your hearing.

So if your hearing aids aren’t be working well for you? After pinpointing the problem, find a solution, so you can get active in your life again. If you believe your hearing aids need adjustment, get in touch with your hearing care expert right away.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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