Thousands of hearing aids are gathering dust in the back of bedroom and kitchen drawers around the country, never to see the light of day again.
Given that a hearing aid is a significant investment, it is quite surprising that people do not make more of an effort. Here are some of the top reasons that hearing aids go unworn.
The aid doesn’t provide the expected improvements
Wearing a hearing aid is a lot like wearing glasses. They won’t fix your hearing condition, but you should notice a huge improvement when you put them in. It’s often described as having the blanket lifted from your ears. If that isn’t the case, it may be that the hearing aid hasn’t been set up properly.
Specialist hearing aid providers such as Hearbase provide follow-up sessions every six months to keep your hearing aid performing perfectly, even as your hearing changes over time.
If you are fitted with your hearing aid by a non-specialist clinic or if you find it difficult to get regular help and support, you are likely to struggle to get good results.
You feel self-conscious about wearing a hearing aid
We live in a culture that seems to place a lot of value on youth and health. So, it’s no surprise that some people feel that wearing a hearing aid isn’t exactly the image they’re going for.
Thankfully, there are now a number of hearing aids which are entirely invisible to the outside world and skin-tone matching has also come on a long way in recent years, so it is possible to wear a hearing aid more discretely than ever before.
It is worth remembering that 10 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss. That’s about 1 in 6 of us. And while age is certainly a factor, 3.5 million people between 16 and 55 have some form of hearing condition.
The aid is uncomfortable
Like a pair of glasses or a new pair of shoes, it can take a little time to adjust to the feeling of wearing a hearing aid. But the ‘breaking in’ period shouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks at most. If feelings of discomfort continue longer than this, it’s almost certainly because there is a problem with the fit.
However, if your hearing aid is more than five years old, you might want to explore some more recent options, as fit and usability are key design factors for most modern hearing aids.
It’s too complicated
Technology has brought many wonderful advances in our society, but many of us aren’t all that technically minded. We just want a phone that makes phone calls and a hearing aid that helps our hearing.
While modern hearing aids certainly do have more controls than in the past, they are still designed with ease of use very much a top priority.
While your children or grandchildren might not be able to step in and help you out, this is where your clinic should step in. Unfortunately, some non-specialist centres still rush this rather important step.
But at Hearbase, we provide follow-up sessions, during which we take the time to answer all you questions about how to control the device.
The maintenance is too bothersome
Like anything else you wear, a hearing aid needs a regular clean and the batteries also need replacing. Thankfully, most modern hearing aids have considered this factor into their design, limiting the amount of time it takes to keep them working well.
If your hearing aid is a few years old and you find the maintenance a bit of a headache, you might want to look at some more up-to-date models that can simplify this process for you.
Do you have a hearing aid you don’t wear?
If your existing hearing aid doesn’t meet your needs, we’re here to help. We can recalibrate your hearing aid, even if you bought it elsewhere (although we can’t work on hearing aids acquired through the NHS).
We can also use our state-of-the-art tests to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your hearing condition and an effective solution.
As we are independent of any manufacturer, we can also provide the best solution for your lifestyle.
Ring us on 0800 028 6179 or email info@hearbase.com
