Can Wearing a Hearing Aid Make Your Hearing Worse?

The Hearing Loss Association of America estimates that approximately 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. For many of these Americans, hearing aids help open up a world of sound. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that: “7.1% of the population aged 45 and over used a hearing aid: 8.9% of men and 5.4% of women.”

If you have a diagnosis of hearing loss, your hearing healthcare specialist may have recommended the use of hearing aids. Hearing aid devices can help slow any further hearing loss. In addition, they can have significant benefits on your quality of life.

If you’re new to hearing aids, it’s understandable that you probably have some questions about them. You may wonder if wearing a hearing aid can make your hearing worse. Let’s explore this further.

Can Wearing a Hearing Aid Make Your Hearing Worse?

Hearing professionals are often asked by patients: “Will wearing a hearing aid make my hearing worse?”

The short answer is: No. 

Hearing aids work by amplifying the surrounding sounds. In most cases, hearing aids are plugging the gaps in your hearing. Because hearing loss often happens gradually over time, many of us don’t realize that our brain is plugging the holes that we’re not hearing.

Wearing hearing aid devices helps to plug this gap. After a few weeks of wearing a hearing aid device, your brain will start to adjust to the new auditory stimulation. It’s not unusual for patients to tell their hearing specialist that they believe the hearing aids have worsened their hearing.

In fact, what is happening is your brain is adjusting to the sounds that you didn’t even realize that you were missing. Your hearing aid devices are providing this sound information to your brain. Once you get accustomed to the devices, removing them can make your hearing loss more apparent.

Hearing Aids Set To Your Listening Needs

When you work with a local hearing healthcare practitioner, they will ensure that your hearing devices are adjusted to your unique listening needs. The settings and volume will be programmed to a level that is both safe and comfortable for you.

Over time, your brain adjusts to the new information that the hearing aids are providing. The result of this is that when you take your hearing aids out, you’re more likely to notice the difference.

So next time you’re wondering if hearing aids make your hearing worse, take comfort knowing the answer is ‘no!’. Simply, your hearing aids are showing just how much you’ve been missing.

Maintaining your hearing aid devices can keep them working at their best for years to come. Alongside at-home maintenance, we recommend getting your hearing aids regularly serviced by a professional. They will double-check the settings, ensuring they are still optimal for your hearing requirements.

Speak to the Specialists at Hearing Services of Delaware

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The purpose of this hearing assessment and/or demonstration is for hearing wellness and to determine if the consumer may benefit from using hearing aids, which may include selling and fitting hearing aids. Products demonstrated may differ from products sold. Assessment conclusion is not a medical diagnosis and further testing may be required to diagnose hearing loss. The use of any hearing aid may not fully restore normal hearing and does not prevent future hearing loss. Hearing instruments may not meet the needs of all hearing-impaired individuals.