As a basic rule, most people don’t like change. Looked at through that prism, hearing aids can be a double-edged sword: your life will undergo a huge change but they also will bring exciting new opportunities. If your someone who appreciates a very rigid routine, the change can be hard. New hearing aids can create some particular challenges. But understanding how to adapt to these devices can help make sure your new hearing aids will be a change you will enjoy.
Tips to Help You Adjust More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Whether it’s your first pair of hearing aids (congrats!) or an upgrade to a more powerful pair, any new hearing aid will represent a significant enhancement in how you hear. Dependant on your individual circumstances, that could be a big adjustment. But your transition might be a little bit easier if you follow these tips.
Begin Wearing Your Hearing Aids in Smaller Doses
As a basic rule, the more you use your hearing aids, the healthier your ears will be. But it can be a little uncomfortable when your getting used to them if you use them for 18 hours a day. You could start by trying to use your hearing aids for 8 hours intervals, and then slowly build up your stamina.
Practice Tuning in to Conversations
When you first begin wearing your hearing aids, your brain will most likely need a little bit of time to become accustomed to the concept that it can hear sounds again. During this adjustment period, it may be hard to follow conversations or hear speech with clarity. But if you want to reset the hearing-language-and-interpreting region of your brain, you can try practicing exercises like reading along with an audiobook.
Get a Fitting For Your Hearing Aids
One of the first things you’ll do – even before you receive your final hearing aids – is go through a fitting process. Improving comfort, taking account of the shape of your ear canal, and adjusting for your personal loss of hearing are all things that a fitting helps with. Several adjustments may be required. It’s crucial to come see us for follow-up appointments and to be serious about these fittings. When your hearing aids fit properly, your devices will sit more comfortably and sound more natural. Adjustments to various environments can also be done by us.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes adapting to a new hearing aid is somewhat difficult because something’s not working quite right. Maybe you hear too much feedback (which can be uncomfortable). It can also be infuriating when the hearing aid keeps cutting out. It can be difficult to adjust to hearing aids because of these types of problems, so it’s best to find solutions as early as possible. Try these tips:
- Talk over any ringing or buzzing with your hearing professional. At times, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other cases, it may be that we have to make some adjustments.
- Consult your hearing professional to double check that the hearing aids are properly calibrated to your hearing loss.
- If you hear a lot of feedback, make sure that your hearing aids are correctly sitting in your ears (it might be that your fit is just a bit off) and that there aren’t any obstructions (earwax for instance).
- Charge your hearing aids every night or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decline, they normally don’t perform as efficiently as they’re meant to.
The Advantages of Adjusting to Your New Hearing Aids
It might take a little time to adapt to your new hearing aids just as it would with new glasses. We hope you will have a smoother and quicker transition with these suggestions. But if you stay with it – if you put yourself into a routine with your hearing aids and really invest in adapting to them – you’ll be pleased by how it all becomes second-nature. And once that takes place, you’ll be capable of devoting your attention to the things you’re actually listening to: like the daily conversation you’ve been missing or your favorite tunes. These sounds remind you that all those adjustments are worth it in the end. And sometimes change is not a bad thing.
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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.
