Do I really need to wear my hearing aids all the time?

Most people know that hearing aids can make a big difference to your ability to communicate when you’re out and about, at work, or socialising, but do you really need to wear them when you’re at home too? 

Yes – definitely! Even if you’re at home by yourself, there are many benefits to wearing your hearing aids: 

Get used to new hearing aids faster 
When you first start wearing hearing aids, or even when you are a long-time wearer fitted with a new pair, it can take awhile for your brain to adjust to the new sounds. Wearing your hearing aids as much as possible helps with this adjustment process. Even when it seems quiet at home, everyday sounds like the fridge or heat pump humming, or a clock ticking can seem loud with new hearing aids. The more you wear your hearing aids, the more natural these sounds will seem, and the easier it will be to tune them out.  

Keep your brain active
Wearing your hearing aids consistently helps to keep your brain stimulated and active, which can contribute to better cognitive function.   

If you’re enjoying a quiet day at home, wearing your hearing aids keeps your brain engaged. Even if it’s just incidental sounds, like the rain on the roof or birds chirping out the window, your brain stays active by processing sound. So, it’s a win-win: you’re hearing better as well as looking after your cognitive health!  

Get the most out of your hearing aids 
Your brain is like a muscle; it needs sound like your body needs movement. The brain needs the exercise of hearing and processing sound to keep working well, especially in more difficult listening situations, such as in background noise. Auditory deprivation occurs when your brain is deprived of sound, such as from untreated hearing loss. Over time, your brain loses the ability to process sound.  

If you go for long periods without wearing your hearing aids, you might notice it’s harder to adjust when you go to wear them in the situations where you really need them.  

Stay safe 
Hearing well makes it easier to hear important warning sounds like smoke alarms, which is especially important if you’re home alone. Wearing your hearing aids at home also helps you to pick up sounds like the oven timer, the washing machine beeping, or someone ringing the doorbell, to improve your awareness of your environment. 

Interestingly, wearing hearing aids has also been shown to reduce your risk of falls. Given that research shows that most falls occur at home, this provides a great reason to wear your hearing aids consistently and help to keep yourself safe.  

So, there are some great reasons to wear your hearing aids, even in those situations where you might have thought it you didn’t need them. That said, it’s okay to take a break sometimes. The goal is regular use, not perfection. A quiet afternoon nap or a little time to let your ears rest is totally fine as long as it doesn’t become a habit.