Catherine Palmer, President of the American Academy of Audiology at Healthy Hearing, emphasized the significance of maintaining a balance between wearing hearing aids and keeping them off. "Exactly how much time an individual should wear hearing aids varies, it's healthier to wear them for longer periods of time," she stated.
"The brain isn't good at trying to listen in two ways—through the hearing loss and through the amplification system," said Palmer. "The ear is a doorway to the brain, it doesn't make sense to have it partially closed part of the day. f hearing and speech and language are the parents' goal, we need to get stimulation to the auditory nerve quickly because neural synapses are developing. We don't want the auditory system deprived of sound."
Healthy Hearing reported that leaving hearing aids out for extended periods might be detrimental and reduce one's hearing capabilities. Using hearing aids less frequently could make it more challenging to hear when they are used again. This issue arises due to the varying energy levels your brain uses for hearing. Once adapted to hearing aids, it becomes difficult to mentally compensate without them. It is also crucial to recognize when to consult an audiologist; if discomfort arises while listening through your hearing aids, it is important to address these specific issues.
Healthy Hearing further explained that individuals experiencing hearing loss often struggle with high-pitched frequencies. If left untreated, auditory deprivation may occur where affected individuals may forget how to hear certain words or sounds. This explains why infrequent use of hearing aids may lead to increased deprivation and reduced hearing abilities. When deciding sporadically on wearing hearing aids, your ears will either benefit more from the surrounding noise or suffer from withdrawal of communication.
The University of Pittsburgh disclosed that Palmer currently serves as Director of Audiology for UPMC Integrated Health System. She regularly conducts research on aid fitting, cognitive health and outcomes, and matching specific technologies to certain individuals. On these particular topics, Palmer has authored over 100 book articles and delivered over 200 international presentations.
