Woman wearing hearing aids enjoys a hike with friends.

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 in most cases, you leave them in your drawer. Is it actually necessary to use them more often than that?

The issue is that when you don’t wear your hearing aids regularly, you’re creating some troubling shortcomings for yourself in the long run. Your hearing could get considerably worse. You could have problems with social isolation and mental decline. Your general health could be compromised. So, if you’re not using your hearing aids, you should definitely be reading this.

Why Aren’t You Using Your Hearing Aid?

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, when your family asks, you may even say something nondescript and elusive, such as, “I just don’t like them”.

Undoubtedly, though, there’s more to it than that. Usually, there’s an exact reason why you’re not using your hearing aids. And there’s also a very exact solution to your problem.

What follows are some of the most common issues;

“My Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable”

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

Hearing aids aren’t intended to be unpleasant, so something is most definitely not right if they’re creating any sort of irritation. And frustration, pain and soreness are not things you would wish from any piece of technology.

Possible solution: If your hearing aids are uncomfortable, a follow-up fitting appointment is something you should think about. It’s altogether feasible that the way your hearing aid fits just needs a few quick alterations. The size and shape of your ear can even be the foundation of an entire customization of some models. You will be able to leave your hearing aid in longer if it fits properly and is comfortable.

My Hearing Aid Has Poor Sound Quality

Perhaps you don’t wear your hearing aids regularly because you find the sound to be fuzzy or tinny. 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 complex auditory functions all the time as they increase some sounds while filtering out others and that can result in a fuzzy or tinny sound. So if your settings aren’t correctly adjusted, the sound quality may seem unreliable.

Solution: There are two possible answers to this problem: calibration and maintenance. Your hearing aids could be damaged in some way or another and require repairing. But it might be possible that they basically need a simple calibration (usually 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 with clarity. When you first purchased hearing aids that was the whole reason! You didn’t want to miss a single word. So it could be a little bit discouraging if all the voices you hear with you’re hearing aid sound muffled or difficult to comprehend.

This usually happens when you first get your hearing aids because your ears and brain aren’t necessarily used to communicating all that well anymore (it’s as if they had a disagreement or something).

Solution: Practice. Comprehending conversations is something your brain will have to become accustomed to, so whatever you can do to get some repetition will help. Try reading along with closed caption while watching your favorite show or along with an audiobook. Merely having more conversations with the people around you is a very good way to practice, as well.

Getting Answers

You can discover an answer no matter what the reason you’re not using your hearing aid. And it is essential, both for your hearing health and your cognitive fitness, that you wear your hearing aids routinely.

So if you’re not wearing your hearing aids? Determine the issue and find a solution, so you can get involved in your life again. If you suspect your hearing aids need adjustment, contact your hearing care expert as soon as possible.

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.