3 Ways To Prevent Closed-Fitting Hearing Aids From Causing Itchiness
Hearing loss is a major issue for older Americans, affecting over 1 in 3 people over the ages of 60. If you're one of these people, you could regain your hearing and benefit from a hearing aid. Closed-fitting hearing aids tend to be more aggressive, as they limit external sound and noise outside the hearing aids. While they are a great option, they often cause itching and discomfort. Here are 3 ways you can prevent itchiness when wearing closed-fitting hearing aids.
Identify Protrusions that Prevent a Perfect Fit
Everyone's ears are shaped differently, and one size does not fit all. Make sure you get the earmolds of your hearing aids custom made to perfectly fit your ear canals. Depending on how sensitive you are, you may be able to determine and pinpoint the exact location where you feel itchy. Take a look at the earmolds you have to determine whether there are any protrusions that may be causing the discomfort.
If you can see the protrusions, you can try to buff the protrusions away yourself. If you can't, you should consider marking the offending area and sending the earmolds back to the manufacturer for a remake.
Reduce the Amount of Residual Monomer on the Earmolds
If the earmolds are made from acrylic resin, like polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, you might be allergic to the material if the monomers are improperly cured. You can replace the earmolds with new ones or even boil the existing ones in a saline solution to encourage the acrylic resin to further polymerize. Still, these options may not completely prevent allergic reactions. As a result, the best solution is to look for alternative materials.
Switching to silicon earmolds has been highly recommended and will usually do the trick. Silicon earmolds are also fairly affordable and easily accessible. They are easy to clean and are also easy to replace, making them one of the most highly recommended alternatives. Still, they're not the only option available. If you want to try something a bit fancier, you can even get earmolds that are plated with gold.
Eliminate Moisture in the Ear
Another cause of itchiness can be moisture in the ear. This is particularly true for those who have wet earwax that retains moisture. If the environment inside your ear is very moist, you'll need stay diligent in keeping your ears cleaned regularly in order to maintain an ideal environment for your hearing aids.
In addition, you should also clean the hearing aids more frequently as well in order to prevent earwax buildup. After cleaning your hearing aids every night, store them in hearing aid dryers or dehumidifiers overnight. Many hearing aid dryers and dehumidifiers are actually very light and portable, so you can carry them with you wherever you go. Dehumidifiers effectively remove moisture from the inner structure of the hearing aids, such as moisture trapped in the tubing, whereas dryers generally remove moisture that has accumulated on the outer surface. Both of these machines help keep your hearing aids in tip-top shape and condition.
Conclusion
To combat hearing loss, make sure you get fitted with the right type of hearing aid. Closed-fitting hearing aids are particularly recommended for severe hearing loss, as they offer the best sound output. While effective, the close contact that the closed-fitted design has with the inside of your ears opens up more potential for itchiness and discomfort. You might have to spend some time tweaking the fit of the earmolds and trying different materials in order to figure out what's best and most comfortable for yourself. For additional information on the available types of hearing aids, contact a company like Audiology Consultants, P.C.