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 for this that we hear from our patients is that they’re concerned about their hearing aids falling out and getting lost or stepped on. We review tips to prevent this from happening below.
Consider Your Activities
If you’re worried about your hearing aids falling out during a specific activity like during group exercises at the Recreation Center of Highland Park, you can simply take them out before it starts. If you take them out, put them in a protective case somewhere safe like a gym locker or your gym bag.
Get a Lanyard
Hearing aid lanyards are cords with clips that attach your hearing aids to your person. This way, if they do fall out when you’re working out or doing other vigorous activities, they won’t fall to the ground or get lost.
Make Sure They’re in Correctly
If your hearing aids are falling out, it may be because you’re not inserting them correctly. Make sure you have the right hearing aid in the right ear and the left hearing aid in the left ear. Smaller models should sit flush with your ear canal, while larger models should sit flush with your earlobe.
Replace Your Inserts
Alternatively, your hearing aids could be falling out because of your inserts. If they’re too large, they won’t go in your ears all the way, and if they’re too small, they won’t stay put. It may also be the case that they are too old. Foam tips should be replaced every two to three weeks and silicone ones should be replaced every four to six months.
Check for Earwax
Wearing hearing aids prevents earwax from working its way out of the ears, causing a buildup. If your earwax has built up, it can push your hearing aids out of your ears. To remove it, apply over-the-counter eardrops and irrigate your ears in the shower, or visit North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab to have it professionally removed.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call North Shore Audio-Vestibular Lab today.