Hearing aids are wonderful technological tools that help a lot of people who suffer from hearing problems. Unfortunately, however, they can sometimes be uncomfortable to wear, especially when you're just getting used to them. The good news is that there are several things you can do to make your hearing aids more comfortable and wearable.
Get a Custom Fit
When possible, you should choose in-the-ear or ITE hearing aids because these devices can be specifically fitted to your ear. These specially fitted hearing aids, which are known as custom hearing aids, are created just for the wearer from a mold taken of his of her inner and outer ear.
Thanks to the perfectly designed, custom fit, these hearing aids will always be comfortable and, even more importantly, will enable the wearer to hear to the fullest extent possible.
Go Stealth
Sometimes, the discomfort people experience from wearing hearing aids is more emotional than physical. For people who are embarrassed and uncomfortable about wearing hearing aids, there are very small, almost undetectable models available.
It's possible to find very small outside-the-ear devices. Even better yet, there are extremely tiny in-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal models. As long as you can find a "mini-model" that meets your hearing needs, you can wear and enjoy your hearing aid without anyone else knowing.
Give Yourself Time
It's important to remember that getting used to wearing hearing aids takes time. Just as people have to get used to wearing glasses, braces, or even dentures, hearing aids are much the same. When you first get them, give yourself a week or so to accommodate to how they feel. If you still experience discomfort after that time, then it's time to see your audiologist to determine if there's a problem with the fit.
Likewise, if everything sounds too loud- a common complaint among new hearing aid wearers- give yourself time to adjust. If the problem doesn't get better after a few weeks, your hearing aid may need to be reprogrammed. The key is just to wait for a little bit before thinking a hearing aid is "no good" and tossing it in favor of a new one.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to get comfortable with your hearing aids. Always choose good, quality aids, and remember that hearing aids cannot completely restore your hearing, but they can help. As long as you have realistic expectations, follow these tips, and stay in close contact with an audiologist (such as one from Waters ENT Sinus & Allergy), you should have a good experience with your hearing aids.
Share3 April 2015
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