There are many excuses people make for not wanting to invest in or wear their hearing aids. Some report negative experiences from wearing them. According to one study, “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.” We review some common hearing aid side effects and solutions for them below in order to get you back to hearing your best while dining out with friends at Marcella’s on North High Street.
Headaches
Headaches can be expected for the first few weeks of wearing new hearing aids. This is because there is a sudden influx of new sounds in your ears, and even familiar sounds are much louder than you’re used to. This side effect is especially common, and more severe, among people who wait a long time to seek treatment for their hearing loss.
To combat this, try turning down the volume on your hearing aids. If you’re still experiencing headaches after several weeks, see your audiologist to have your hearing aids reprogrammed.
Sore Ears
When you first start wearing hearing aids, you may be constantly aware that they’re there for the first several days or weeks, but wearing them should never be painful. If your hearing aids are making your ears sore, you may need a new earmold.
An audiologist can take a new impression of your ear and get you a new earmold that fits better.
Itchy Ears
There are two likely culprits behind an itchy ear when wearing hearing aids: earwax impaction and sensitivity to the materials. Because your hearing aids block your ear canals, earwax can’t work its way out of the ears like normal, which can cause it to be impacted. However, if this isn’t the problem, you may be sensitive to the materials used in your earmold.
An audiologist at Columbus Speech & Hearing can safely and professionally remove the earwax from your ears. Or, if necessary, make new earmolds using a different material. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Columbus Speech & Hearing today.