Hearing aids can make a positive impact on your ear health, but you might be intrigued to learn that they can come with some drawbacks.
If you’ve been using hearing aids for a while, or might need hearing support in the future, it’s a good idea to understand what you might experience as a result of improved hearing.
In this blog, we’ll list some common misconceptions of how hearing aids might affect your health, and even some that you might not have been aware of.
Can hearing aids cause tinnitus?
Hearing aids won’t usually be the cause of tinnitus, as we offer hearing devices as a means of helping you cope with this experience.
However, if devices aren’t fitted properly, these uncomfortable frequencies can be amplified giving you the perception they’ve made it worse. We take care to fit your hearing aids correctly to reduce the risk of tinnitus side-effects.
If you’re experiencing this currently, even with properly adjusted hearing aids, it might be worth booking an appointment to see how our experts can help you and manage your tinnitus.
Can hearing aids give you a headache?
A pair of hearing devices that need adjusting can also lead to headaches.
Your devices might have been set too high, meaning noises that should be experienced at a normal level become very loud. It can be as simple as visiting your audiologist for a quick adjustment.
Can hearing aids cause vertigo?
You’ll likely know that vertigo causes you to feel rather dizzy, but thankfully hearing aids won’t cause this feeling.
Vertigo is caused by another underlying condition, which means that you might be experiencing a symptom of another health-related problem. It can occur as a result of a brain condition, in addition to something directly effecting the inner ear.
Don’t be put off using your hearing devices for this reason, as they will not make an impact if you currently suffer from vertigo, nor cause it.
If this is something you’re experiencing currently, you should speak to your GP or health care professional for further advice.
Can hearing aids lead to ear infections?
Wearing hearing aids won’t directly lead to an ear infection, but you must maintain your devices to avoid this.
Make sure you’re regularly cleaning them, as bacteria and ear wax can build up which may result in an infection. It’s best practice to take your hearing devices out each day and give them a quick clean with the brush included.
Can hearing aids cause sinus problems?
hearing aids don’t have anything to do with your sinuses, and therefore wouldn’t make an impact on your hearing health in this way.
If you’re going through a cold or the flu, where your sinuses are likely to be inflamed, your ears might feel a bit blocked up but this is often due to a build-up of mucus.
Just like a cold, this will soon pass and your hearing will be back to normal in no time.
Can hearing aids make you feel tired?
It is very possible that you may feel tired because of hearing aids. As hearing aid provider Starkey states, ‘the sudden influx of sounds someone perceives in comparison to not having hearing aids can put strain on a person’s listening capacity’ especially if your hearing has been greatly reduced.
This usually only lasts for a short time, so there’s no need to worry that you’re sacrificing better hearing for feeling exhausted.
Hopefully this collection of potential hearing aid health questions has helped in easing your doubts. If you do notice that you begin to experience any of the health-related issues listed above, consult your doctor immediately.
You can also book an appointment with us if your hearing aids might need adjusting, or if you need a general check up on your overall ear health. Our expert audiologists are experienced in helping you get your hearing in tip top shape!
