So, it’s not very often that you use your hearing aids? Most of the time you keep them in the drawer unless you’re, for instance, going to a party or to the theater. Is it really necessary to wear them more often than that?
The problem is that when you don’t use your hearing aids on a regular basis, you’re developing some troubling disadvantages for yourself over time. You could harm your hearing irreversibly. You could suffer from social isolation and cognitive decline. You might compromise your general health. So, if you are not wearing your hearing aids, you should definitely be reading this.
Why Are Your Hearing Aids Not in
If your hearing aids are sitting unused in a nightstand drawer somewhere, you probably have an excuse. Sure, maybe you haven’t exactly been forthcoming about what those reasons might be. Maybe, when your family questions you, you may even say something nondescript and elusive, like, “I just don’t like them”.
Stilted dialogue aside, we know that’s not the full story, right? Normally, there’s a specific reason why you’re not using your hearing aids. Specific issues are positive because they create the possibility to find an equally specific remedy.
What follows are some of the most frequent issues;
“My Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable”
One of the most frequently cited reasons that people stop using their hearing aids normally 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.
Hearing aids aren’t supposed to be unpleasant, so something is surely not right if they are creating any sort of irritation. And frustration, pain and soreness are not things you would desire from any piece of technology.
Possible solution: If you’re uncomfortable with your hearing aids, a follow-up fitting appointment is something you should think about. A couple small tweaks could be all your hearing aid requires. The size and shape of your ear can even be the basis of an entire customization of some models. The more comfortable your hearing aid is, the more likely you are to keep 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. It’s not shocking that you have decided to put away your hearing aids for a special occasion, if that’s the case.”
This fuzzy or tinny sound can happen because hearing aids are performing complex auditory functions at all times, filtering out some sounds while trying to amplify others. So if your settings aren’t properly adjusted, the sound quality may seem unreliable.
Solution: This challenge has two possible solution: upkeep and calibration. Your hearing aids might be damaged in some way or another and need to be
repaired. But it might be possible that they basically need a simple calibration (usually this is something your hearing specialist can do for you).
When I Wear My Hearing Aid, Voices Are Muffled
You need to hear voices with clarity. When you first bought hearing aids that was the whole point! You wanted to make sure you didn’t miss any important discussions. So it could be a bit discouraging if all the voices you hear when your wearing you’re hearing aid sound muffled or hard to comprehend.
This normally happens when you first get your hearing aids because your brain and ears aren’t necessarily used to communicating very well anymore (it’s as if they had a disagreement or something).
The Solution: Practice. Your brain will need to become accustomed to hearing language again, so whatever you can do to get some repetition will help. Try reading along with an audiobook or reading along with the closed captioning while you watch NCIS. Just having more discussions with the people around you is a great way to practice, as well.
Getting Answers
The point is regardless of what your justification for not using your hearing aids might, there’s a solution somewhere. And you have to use your hearing aid consistently in order to protect your cognitive health and the health of your hearing.
So if your hearing aids aren’t be working very well for you? After identifying the problem, find a solution, so you can get active in your life again. If you suspect your hearing aids need adjustment, contact your hearing care expert now.
The content of this blog is the intellectual property of MedPB.com and is reprinted here with permission.
The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.
