Can You Sleep with Your Hearing Aids?

If you suffer from hearing loss, hearing aids will become a must-have accessory during the daytime. But what about during the night? Can hearing aids be worn while you sleep?

What Should You Do with Hearing Aids at Bedtime?

Hearing aids are not designed to be worn while you sleep. Sleeping with your hearing aids is not recommended for several reasons:

Feedback

This issue is applicable for behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids. Pressing these hearing aids up against a pillow, hand, or mattress while you sleep will cause feedback. The squealing sound that results would be disruptive to your own sleep or that of your partner’s.

Pain

Hearing aids contain hard plastic parts. Laying down on these parts for even a short amount of time can create painful pressure points.

Health

Nighttime is the perfect time to let your ears breathe. It’s important for the health of your ears to allow air to circulate within them during the night. It’s also important to give earwax an opportunity to migrate out of the ears.

Battery life

If you wear your hearing aids during both the day and night, you’ll be going through twice as many batteries. This unnecessary cost can add up quickly. If you have rechargeable hearing aids, nighttime is when they will need to be placed in the charger for full use the next day. 

Device care

As mentioned previously, hearing aids are not designed to be worn while you sleep. Sleeping with your hearing aids can cause the devices to become worn out or damaged. For example, behind-the-ear hearing aids can be pulled loose and subsequently lost in the bed when you toss and turn.

It’s important to have a good routine with your hearing aids before going to bed. Firstly, always turn the hearing aids off by opening the battery compartments or placing them in the charger. Next, lay the hearing aids down in a designated container or charger that will keep them safe during the night. It is often easiest to keep this container on your nightstand away from water, children, and pets.

What if You Fall Asleep with Your Hearing Aids In?

We’ve all had the occasional nap while watching TV. Or the nights where you barely have the energy to put pajamas on. What happens if you accidentally fall asleep with your hearing aids in? You should know there is no need to worry. The health of your ears and your hearing aids should be fine as long as it only occurs every once in a while.

What if you’re worried about missing a phone call or sleeping through your alarm while you sleep? 

It is important to know that there are alarm clocks for people with hearing loss that can be used to help you instead of wearing your hearing aids. For example, a smartwatch can vibrate for both phone calls and alarms. There are also alarm clocks that simulate sunlight when it’s time to wake up. Feel free to consult your audiologist for advice if needed.

Although you can sleep with your hearing aids in occasionally, you do not need to make a habit of it. Hearing aids are too important (and expensive) to be treated trivially. To provide the best care for your hearing aids, safely stow your hearing aids away before you go to sleep.

Sources

1. Rule Hearing Centre. “Can I Sleep with My Hearing Aids On?” https://rulehearingcentre.com/articles/can-i-sleep-with-my-hearing-aids-on/#:~:text=To%20answer%20this%20question%20in,sleep%20with%20your%20hearing%20aids.&text=A%20hearing%20aid%20that%20fits,aid%20housing%20behind%20the%20ear. Accessed Apr. 3, 2022.
2. Beltone. “Sleeping & Other Dos and Don’ts with Your Hearing Aids.” Jul. 22, 2019. https://beltonelistens.com/sleeping-dos-donts-hearing-aids/. Accessed Apr. 3, 2022.