Have you ever misplaced your cellphone or been unable to locate the remote control? We’ve all experienced anxious-ridden moments such as these. These objects usually turn up in a few minutes (pro tip: look under the sofa cushions), but when you have misplaced something a bit more expensive, such as hearing aids, your reaction may be more panicky.
Develop a Hearing Aid Routine
People in Portland are notorious for losing sunglasses. Not surprising, given that half the year is rainy and the other half, less rainy. A lost pair of sunglasses might set you back $50 or so, but that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of replacing hearing aids.
This is more common than you might think. Your Portland audiologist indicates that a handful of people end up misplacing their hearing aids during a typical month. The best way to prevent this is to develop a routine. In a nutshell: wear them! If your hearing aids are in your ears, where they belong, you’re much less likely to lose them. When removing your hearing aids, immediately place them in a case or charger. That way, you will always know where to find them.
Failure to do so means your hearing aids might end up in the unlikeliest of places. Some of our favorite anecdotal evidence includes:
- A woman who took out her hearing aids while reading and set them next to a bowl of peanuts. She inadvertently ended up with a mouthful of hearing aid.
- One man found his hearing aids in the bottom of his dishwasher several months after losing them. Not only were they good and clean by that point, but surprisingly, they still worked. (Kids, don’t try this at home!)
- Many a child has dashed off the ol’ “the dog ate my homework” excuse to their teacher for a missing assignment. Believe it or not, Fido really is one of the biggest reasons for missing hearing aids. Leaving them out in the open may tempt your dog to view them as a chew toy.
Make sure to protect your hearing aid batteries, too. These are attractive to both pets and little children, who may mistake them for candy, and can be fatal if ingested. If your child swallows a battery, call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 immediately.
If you do lose your hearing aids, contact your Portland audiologist as soon as possible. They may have a loaner you can borrow until they turn up. Your hearing aids may have insurance coverage for loss, but you’ll still have to wait a bit before new ones arrive and consistent use is crucial to your long-term hearing health.