It can be challenging for new hearing aid wearers to assimilate to the new routine of wearing hearing aids. Although the hearing aids make a world of difference to the performance of your hearing, they’re also a considerable change in your daily routine.
We have helped thousands of patients make this transition from not wearing hearing aids to wearing them all the time. We are familiar with the common pitfalls and positive attributes that come with hearing better.
Here we have compiled a list of the most common questions we face with patients who are new to hearing aids.
When Are The Best Times To Wear Hearing Aids?
It’s recommended that people who wear hearing aids do so during all waking hours.
While many people assume that it’s not necessary to wear their hearing aids when they are at home alone, this is not the case at all! Hearing aid users must get used to hearing all the small sounds in their environment.
Listening to the refrigerator humming, the air conditioner coming on and off, and the sound of the dishwasher or ceiling fan are all necessary to improve your hearing.
This is so your brain understands which sounds are essential for communication and which are simply background noise. Your brain is like a muscle and, as such, needs to be exercised.
When a person starts wearing hearing aids, they are essentially overstimulating their auditory system, and they hear ALL of the sounds around them. Even the sounds that they don’t want to hear!
The truth is, those sounds are all part of our acoustic environment. The more we hear those sounds, the better we get at not focusing on them. When we get into more challenging listening environments, such as a restaurant, it is easier to focus on the person we are communicating with and block out less important sounds.
When Should You Not Wear Hearing Aids?
The best advice is for people NOT to wear hearing aids when sleeping or when in any water. Many people feel insecure when they go to sleep and cannot detect sounds in the environment that could alert them to danger.
However, the hearing aids could physically hurt your ears while asleep. But, more commonly, they may fall out and get lost in the bed!
While hearing aids are MUCH more moisture-resistant than they have been in the past, there are no hearing aids currently made for swimming. Even rechargeable hearing aids that don’t have a battery door to open and allow moisture to get inside should still be kept clear of all water.
While hearing aids may survive for a short time submerged in water, this is not their designed use. Further to that, a shower or swimming pool is another fantastic place to LOSE a hearing aid!
Is It Safe To Wear Hearing Aids In Bed?
If you accidentally fall asleep with hearing aids in your ears, don’t panic. There is no risk of the hearing aid malfunctioning just because you slept in them.
The real danger is discomfort or losing the hearing aid. Just try to get into the habit of putting your hearing aids in a safe spot when you’re ready for a nap.
What Should I Do If My Hearing Aids Get Damaged?
Should your hearing aids get damaged due to any unforeseen event, please bring them to our office as soon as possible.
We offer hearing aid repairs for our patients and non-patients in San Antonio, and if your device needs sending to the factory for repair, we offer a loaner service so that you don’t miss a beat.
Where Can I Get More Information On Hearing Aid Care?
We are always here to help. You can call us anytime with your questions and concerns, and any one of our staff will be happy to help you. We also have plenty of resources you can check out by clicking here.
We have extensive experience with all brands of hearing aids, so even if you didn’t get them from us, we are prepared to help no matter what.
