So you don’t wear your hearing aids very often? Maybe 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. Is it actually important to use them more often than that?
In the long run, you make difficulty for yourself if you’re not wearing your hearing aids regularly and that’s an issue. Your hearing could get considerably worse. Social isolation and cognitive decline could be the outcome. You may compromise your general health. So, if you are not using your hearing aids, you should definitely pay attention to this.
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, perhaps you haven’t really been forthcoming about what those reasons might be. Maybe, when your family questions you, you might even say something generic and evasive, like, “I just don’t like them”.
Undoubtedly, though, there’s more to it than that. Usually, there’s a particular reason why you don’t use your hearing aids. Specific issues are good because they create an opportunity to find an equally specific remedy.
Some of the most common issues include the following;
“My Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable”
One of the most commonly mentioned reasons that individuals stop wearing their hearing aids normally is discomfort. Perhaps the hearing aid keeps falling out of your ear. Or maybe tenderness and pain 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 wrong if they are causing any kind of irritation. And it’s easy to understand 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 setting up an additional or follow-up fitting session. It’s entirely feasible that the fit of your hearing aid simply requires a couple of quick alterations. The shape and size of your ear can even be the foundation of a complete customization of some models. The more comfortable your hearing aid fits, the more likely you are to leave the device in place for long periods of time.
My Hearing Aid Has Poor Sound Quality
Maybe you find the sound of your hearing aid to be too fuzzy or tinny so you don’t wear them very often. If that’s the situation, it’s not surprising that you’ve opted to store your hearing aids in a drawer somewhere and save them for “special occasions”.”
Hearing aids are completing complicated auditory functions all the time as they amplify some sounds while getting rid of others and that can result in a tinny or fuzzy sound. So if your settings aren’t properly tweaked, the sound quality might seem unreliable.
Solution: This challenge has two potential solution: calibration and maintenance. It could be that your hearing aids are damaged in some form or another and need to be repaired. But it’s also possible that they basically need a simple calibration (normally this is something your hearing specialist can do for you).
Voices Seem Muffled With my Hearing Aids
You need to hear voices with clarity. That’s the entire reason why you got hearing aids in the first place! You wanted to be certain you didn’t miss any relevant interactions. So it may be a little bit discouraging if all the voices you hear with you’re hearing aid are muffled or hard to understand.
This generally 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 disagreement or something).
The Solution: Keep practicing. Comprehending conversations is something your brain will need to get used to, so anything you can do to help provide some repetition will help. Try reading along with closed caption to your favorite tv show or along with an audiobook. Merely having more discussions with the people around you is a very good way to practice, as well.
Finding Answers
The point is regardless of what your reason for not wearing your hearing aids might, there’s an answer somewhere. And it is essential, both for the health of your hearing and your cognitive fitness, that you wear your hearing aids regularly.
So if you’re not wearing your hearing aids? Recognize the problem and find a solution, so you can get active in your life again. If you suspect your hearing aids require adjustment, contact your hearing care specialist right away.