Woman wearing hearing aids enjoys a hike with friends.

So you don’t use your hearing aids very often? Most of the time you keep them in the drawer unless you’re, for instance, going to the theater or to a party. Is it really necessary to use them more often than that?

In the long run, you make difficulty for yourself if you’re not using your hearing aids regularly and that’s a problem. Your hearing could get significantly worse. Social isolation and cognitive decline could be the result. You might compromise your general health. This content will help you discover why you should be using 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 probably have a reason. Sure, perhaps you haven’t specifically been honest about what those reasons are. Maybe, when your family asks, you might even say something generic and evasive, like, “I just don’t like them”.

Certainly, though, there’s more to the story than that. Usually, there’s a particular reason why you don’t use your hearing aids. Specific grievances are positive because they generate the possibility to find an equally specific solution.

The following are some of the most common issues;

“My Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable”

Discomfort is one of the most frequently cited grounds for people not wearing their hearing aids. Sometimes, the hearing aid keeps falling out of your ear. Or perhaps your over-the-ear model chafes in just the wrong spot, causing pain and tenderness.

It’s not supposed to be uncomfortable to use hearing aids, so if they’re creating discomfort of any sort, something is surely not right. And it’s logical that you wouldn’t want to wear a piece of technology that creates pain, frustration or soreness.

Possible solution: If your hearing aids are uncomfortable, a follow-up fitting appointment is something you should think about. A few slight tweaks could be all your hearing aid needs. The shape and size of your ear can even be the basis of an entire customization of some designs. You will be able to leave your hearing aid in longer if it fits properly and is comfortable.

I’m Experiencing Poor Quality Sound From my Hearing Aids

Maybe you find the sound of your hearing aid to be too fuzzy or tinny so you don’t use them that often. If that’s the situation, it’s not surprising that you’ve decided to stow your hearing aids in a drawer somewhere and save them for “special occasions”.”

This tinny or fuzzy sound can happen because hearing aids are doing complicated auditory functions at all times, filtering out some sounds while trying to amplify others. So if your settings aren’t correctly tweaked, the sound quality might seem unreliable.

Solution: This difficulty has two potential answer: calibration and maintenance. It’s possible that your hearing aids are broken in some form or another and require repairs. But we can do a quick calibration which is all that your hearing aids may need.

Voices Are Muffled With my Hearing Aids

You need to hear voices clearly. That’s the overall reason why you purchased hearing aids in the first place! You didn’t want to miss a single word. So if all the voices you hear are hard to understand and sound muffled it might be a bit frustrating.

Because your brain and ears aren’t communicating effectively anymore, this problem usually occurs when you first purchase your hearing aids.

Solution: Keep practicing. Your brain is going to have to get used to hearing language again, so putting yourself in situations where you can hear people conversing regularly will be helpful. Try reading along with an audiobook or reading along with the closed captioning while you watch NCIS. Merely having more conversations with the people who are around you is a perfect way to get some practice, too.

Getting Answers

You can discover a solution no matter what the reason you’re not wearing your hearing aid. And you need to use your hearing aid routinely in order to safeguard your cognitive health and the health of your hearing.

So if your hearing aids aren’t be working very well for you? After determining the problem, find a solution, so you can make your hearing aids, and all that they help you hear, part of your everyday life. If you suspect your hearing aids need adjustment, call us.

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.