Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from the use of hearing aids. Knowing how to care for your hearing aids can help you ensure their longevity. One of the simplest ways to care for your devices is to know when and when not to wear them.
When To Wear Hearing Aids
Consistency is important when wearing hearing aids. Keeping to a regular schedule allows your brain ample time to adjust to and learn to process sounds in a new way.
Wearing your hearing aids from when you wake up to when you go to sleep is the most effective way to get acclimated to them. A couple of important times to wear them include:
- When at home. Wearing your devices at home allows you to hear smoke alarms, security systems, phone calls, music, TV and more. Especially if you spend a lot of time at home, wearing them daily allows your brain to acclimate to everyday sounds.
- When out with friends. Whether talking with friends over a latte at [local coffee shop] or sharing a meal at your favorite restaurant, wearing your hearing aids can help ensure easy communication when interacting with others.
- When at social events. Social events can be difficult with hearing loss. The background noise can make conversation feel impossible. Wearing your hearing aids can help suppress unwanted noise and make listening to the sounds you want to hear a little easier.
When Not To Wear Your Hearing Aids
While consistency of use is important, there are a few times when taking your hearing aids out is recommended, including:
- At night. Removing your hearing aids while you sleep allows your ears to breathe and protects your device from possible damage.
- Around water. Whether you’re in the shower or taking a swim, removing your hearing aids and placing them away from the water will keep them safe.
- When applying aerosols. Products such as perfumes and hairspray are okay with hearing aids, but to prevent damage, it is always best to remove the hearing aids before applying and put them back in after.
- When around hazardous noise. While loud noise may not damage hearing aids, it can harm your ears and lead to additional hearing loss. Hearing aids help you hear but do not protect against further noise damage. Swapping out your hearing aids for earplugs around harmful noise levels will help you protect your hearing.
To learn more about hearing aids or to make an appointment with one of our specialists, call Sound Advice today.