According to a study published in the International Journal of Audiology, “The majority (80%) of adults aged 55–74 years who would benefit from a hearing aid, do not use them. Furthermore, many people given a hearing aid do not wear it.” The authors suggest this is likely due to, “Issues were around hearing aid value, i.e. the hearing aid not providing enough benefit, and comfort related to wearing the hearing aid.”
One barrier to wearing hearing aids that we hear at Premier Medical Group is that the hearing aids sometimes fall out, especially at Jason’s Fitness of Mobile, and patients don’t want to wear them if they’re going to risk losing them. Fortunately, there are many strategies for preventing your hearing aids from falling out. We review tips below.
Ensure Proper Placement
For some people, the reason their hearing aids don’t stay in their ears is that they simply aren’t placing them correctly. First, make sure you’re putting the correct hearing aid into the correct ear. Next, make sure the hearing aid is flush with your ear canal for small models or with your outer earlobe for larger ones.
Check Your Inserts
Some styles of hearing aids have foam or silicone earpieces that need to be replaced every so often. Foam tips need to be replaced every two to three weeks, while silicone ones need to be replaced every four to six months. If you haven’t replaced yours in a while, it could cause your hearing aids to fall out. They may also fall out if you have the wrong size. Too large, it will be difficult to insert, and too small, it will come out too easily.
Remove Excess Earwax
A buildup of earwax can also push your hearing aids out of your ears. To remove it, purchase over-the-counter eardrops and apply them as directed. Then, irrigate your ears in the shower. Never stick cotton swabs, hair pins or tweezers into the ears to remove wax, as this could push it farther in or puncture your eardrum. If you can’t successfully remove earwax at home, visit Premier Medical Group to have your ears professionally cleaned.
Purchase a Lanyard
A hearing aid lanyard or clip attaches your hearing aids to your clothes, so if they do happen to fall out, they won’t fall to the floor – they’ll still be attached to your person.
For more information about hearing aid fittings or to schedule an appointment, call Premier Medical Group today.