So, it’s not all that often that you use your hearing aids? Most of the time you keep them in the drawer unless you’re, for example, going to a party or to the theater. Is it really important to wear them more regularly than that?
The problem is that when you don’t use your hearing aids on a regular basis, you’re creating some troubling shortcomings for yourself over the long term. You could harm your hearing permanently. You could have problems with cognitive decline or social isolation. You may compromise your general health. So, if you aren’t using your hearing aids, you should certainly be reading this.
Why Aren’t Your Hearing Aids in Your Ears?
If your hearing aids are sitting unused in a nightstand drawer somewhere, you likely have a reason. You might have decided to keep those reasons to yourself. Maybe 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 go a little deeper, you’ll probably find that there’s a specific grievance at the heart of your sporadic hearing aid use. Specific complaints are good because they create an opportunity to find an equally specific solution.
Some of the most typical issues consist of the following;
“My Hearing Aids Don’t Feel That Comfortable”
One of the most regularly cited reasons that individuals discontinue wearing their hearing aids frequently is discomfort. Often, 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.
It’s not supposed to be uncomfortable to use hearing aids, so something is surely not right if they’re causing any kind of irritation. And soreness, frustration, and pain are not things you would wish from any piece of technology.
Possible solution: If you’re uncomfortable with your hearing aids, a follow-up fitting appointment is something you should consider. A couple slight adjustments might be all your hearing aid needs. Some designs can even be totally personalized to the shape and size of your ears. The more comfortable your hearing aid fits, the more likely you are to keep it in place for long periods of time.
I’m Experiencing Poor Quality Sound From my Hearing Aids
Maybe you find the sound of your hearing aid to be too tinny or fuzzy so you don’t use them very often. It’s not shocking that you’ve decided to put your hearing aids away for a special occasion, if that’s the case.”
Hearing aids are doing complicated auditory functions all of the time as they amplify some sounds while filtering out others and that can result in a fuzzy or tinny sound. So if your settings aren’t properly tweaked, the sound quality might seem unreliable.
Solution: There are two possible solutions to this problem: maintenance and calibration. It could be that your hearing aids are broken in some form or another and have to be repaired. But it might be 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 Are Muffled
When you listen to people talk, you want to be capable of hearing them clearly. That’s the entire reason why you got hearing aids in the first place! You wanted to be sure you didn’t miss any important conversations. So if all the voices you hear are hard to comprehend and sound muffled it could be a bit aggravating.
This generally occurs when you first use your hearing aids because your ears and brain aren’t necessarily used to communicating very well anymore (it’s like they had a disagreement or something).
Solution: Keep practicing. Comprehending conversations is something your brain will need to become accustomed to, so putting yourself in a position to hear people conversing regularly will be helpful. Try reading along with closed caption to your favorite tv show or along with an audiobook. Merely having more conversations with the people around you is a great way to practice, as well.
Getting Solutions
You can find an answer no matter what the reason you’re not wearing your hearing aid. And it is imperative, both for the health of your hearing and for your cognitive well-being, that you wear your hearing aids routinely.
So if you’re not using your hearing aids? Identify the issue and 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.
