Hearing aids are complex medical devices that enable you to hear well even in the most complex listening environments, like Lazy Dog Restaurant on Hillcrest Drive.
According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, “Although a large number of adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids experience some degree of negative side effects, those effects tend to be mild.” Below we review some of the common side effects of hearing aids and solutions to combat them.
Headaches
The longer you go without treating your hearing loss, the more likely you’ll experience this side effect. The reason many new hearing aid wearers get headaches is because you’re suddenly hearing an influx of sounds you’ve been missing. Even sounds you were able to hear before getting hearing aids are much louder with them.
If you’re still experiencing headaches after the first couple weeks, ask your audiologist to adjust the programming so sounds aren’t quite so loud.
Sore Ears
It’s common when you first start wearing hearing aids to be aware that they’re there, but they should never be painful. If your ears are sore, this is a sign that your hearing aids don’t fit properly.
An audiologist can take a new impression of your ear and reorder earmolds that fit better.
Itchy Ears
Itchy ears are generally caused by one of two factors: earwax buildup or sensitivity to the materials.
When you wear hearing aids, the ear canal is blocked, meaning earwax can no longer work its way out of the ears, causing impaction. An audiologist can either remove the earwax or refer you to an ENT physician to have it removed.
If earwax isn’t the problem, it may be the case you’re sensitive to the materials used in your earmold. Your audiologist can order a new earmold made of something different so you no longer react to it.
Feedback
Feedback is that whistling or screeching noise caused by sound being trapped by your hearing aid. It was a common problem among older hearing aids, but is rare among the newer ones.
If you’re experiencing feedback, it may be the case that all you need to do is turn down the volume on your hearing aids. If this doesn’t work, talk to your audiologist about upgrading your devices.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Decibel Hearing Services today.