picking

A friend in his seventies suddenly lost his hearing a year ago.
A month ago he had cochlear implant surgery.

It was hoped that he could regain some hearing.

I went to see him today.

He has his new hearing device.
If he wears it he can hear-
as long as he doesn't "pick" at it,
touching it,
adjusting it,
accidentally turning it off.

As I watched him it reminded me of a child
with a scab who just can't help but pick at it.

If they would just leave "it" be,
the hearing device would work,
the scab would protect the wound.

It has made me stop and ask-
What am I "picking" at ?