Hearing aids are a beneficial tool for most people with hearing loss. Research estimates that approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.
If you have been considering treating your hearing loss with hearing aids or are just getting adjusted to your first pair, you probably have a lot of questions about how to use them properly. One question you may have is whether or not you should wear your hearing aids while you sleep. The answer to that question is a resounding no!
Let’s take a closer look at why it’s important to take your hearing aids out every night before bed.
Your Ears and Hearing Aids Need Time to Breathe 
Both your ears and your hearing aids need a breather at night. Wearing your hearing aids for most of your waking hours means that they are exposed to a lot of earwax, sweat and other debris that, over time, can cause your device to stop working well. It’s important that you not only take out your hearing aids at night but also clean them and store them somewhere safe, cool and dry while you sleep.
Additionally, your ears need time to be able to breathe and work earwax out naturally so that buildup doesn’t occur and lead to impaction or infection.
It Can Interfere with Your Sleep Quality
Getting a good night’s sleep is important to our overall health, and wearing your hearing aids to bed can make resting well much more difficult.
Hearing aid material is hard and can press uncomfortably in your ear if you are sleeping or roll over to your side. This can interfere with falling asleep or wake you up in the middle of the night.
The microphone of your hearing aids can also rub against your pillow or other bedding, creating an unpleasant whistling noise known as feedback. This can bother both you and your partner and make it difficult to sleep as well.
The Many Benefits of Hearing Aids
While hearing aids are a definite no when sleeping, wearing them consistently throughout your waking hours will give you the best listening experience as you navigate throughout your day. Hearing aids can help you:
- Follow along during a work meeting.
- Listen to your favorite music at home with your spouse.
- Enjoy catching up with an old friend over Zoom.
- Sharing your thoughts at your monthly book club meeting.
- Have a relaxing and engaging dinner with friends out at Anson 11.
To learn more about how hearing aids can benefit you, call Tinnitus & Hearing Experts today.