Once you have a hearing aid and have started to adjust to it, you might wonder whether you should wear it all the time or only when you really need it. Some people put wear a hearing aid only when they go out or in social situations so they can hear the conversation but leave it out at other times. What about when you’re home alone and there’s no one to talk to?

It’s best to wear your hearing aid even when you’re home alone. Hearing encompasses more than just your ears – you need the help of your brain to process incoming sound. Once you have a hearing aid, your ears and brain have to relearn how to work together so you can more efficiently process and interpret sound at all times of the day. The more time you spend wearing your new hearing aid, the faster this retraining process will take place and the more rapid your adjustment period will be. How often should you wear it? Keep it in during the hours you’re awake, no matter what you have planned. Banish the mindset that you only need to wear it when you go out.

When should you NOT wear a hearing aid? While you’re sleeping, when you’re bathing or showering, when you’re swimming and while washing your hair. Water and humidity can damage your hearing aid, shorten its lifespan and lead to performance problems, and your hair spray and other cosmetic products used around your face can do the same. If you use these products, take your hearing aid out first and let the products completely dry before putting your hearing aid back in. At night, leave the battery door open to allow any moisture to dry out. Another option is to invest in a drying kit made for removing moisture from hearing aids.

You’ll get the best performance out of your hearing aid if you wear it during the hours you’re awake – not just when you think you need it.