If the hearing aids you invested time and money in are sitting in a drawer somewhere instead of being worn, you’re not alone. One study by researchers at the University of Manchester revealed that 20% of people with hearing aids don’t actually wear them, and 30% only wear them some of the time.
Below we cover some of the common reasons people don’t wear their hearing aids and how an audiologist can help.
If You Feel Like You Hear Well Enough Without Hearing Aids…
Untreated hearing loss, even a mild hearing loss, is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. Researchers found that mild hearing loss is associated with double the risk of developing dementia, moderate hearing loss is associated with triple the risk and severe hearing loss is associated with five times the risk.
If You Feel Like Your Hearing Aids Aren’t Effective…
They may just need to be reprogrammed. Remember, when your hearing aids were first programmed, it was based on the results of your hearing test, which took place in a soundproof booth. Real-world listening situations, like dinner time at Clinkerdagger are much different, so the programming will probably need to be tweaked. This is why it’s important to attend follow-up visits.
If Your Hearing Aids Are Physically Uncomfortable…
You may need a new earmold. Your ears constantly grow as you age, so what once fit your ears might not anymore. In addition, there may have been an issue with how the impressions of your ear were first taken. Your audiologist can take new impressions for better-fitting earmolds. If it’s the material that’s bothering your ears, your audiologist can order earmolds made of something different.
If You’re Embarrassed About Wearing Hearing Aids…
Know that in today’s day and age, wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular. So many people wear AirPods and other earbuds, it’s likely that nobody will think twice about the technology in your ears. If you have cosmetic concerns about your outdated hearing aids, you can talk to your audiologist about upgrading.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Columbia Hearing Centers today.