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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.” One of the reasons our patients cite for not wearing their hearing aids is they worry they’ll fall out. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening.
Consider Your Activities
When are you most worried about your hearing aids falling out? While some people only worry about this when doing a vigorous exercise routine at Colaw Fitness on 19th Terrace, others may worry about them falling out when eating lunch at home. Whenever you think this is a possibility, try the following tips.
Check Your Inserts
It may be the case that you’re wearing the wrong size inserts. If they’re too large, you’ll have difficulty inserting them all the way, and if they’re too small, they will come loose and fall out easily. Make sure you get the correct size of hearing aid inserts – they should be easy to insert and also stay put.
Alternatively, you may have the right size, but they might be too old. Foam inserts need to be replaced every two to three weeks, while silicone inserts need to be replaced every four to six months.
If your inserts are custom-fit and you’re having this problem, schedule an appointment with your audiologist to have them refit.
Make Sure You’re Putting Them in Correctly
Some people’s hearing aids fall out because they don’t know how to insert them correctly. First, make sure you have the right hearing aid in the correct ear. Then, make sure they’re sitting flush with your ear canal (for smaller models) or with your outer earlobe (for larger models).
Remove Excess Earwax
One potential cause of hearing aids falling out is excessive earwax. The best way to remove earwax yourself is to use over-the-counter eardrops to soften the wax, then to irrigate the ears in the shower. If this doesn’t work, the earwax may be impacted, in which case it should be expertly removed by a professional at Topeka Ear Nose & Throat.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Topeka Ear Nose & Throat today.