People typically don’t like change. Taking this into consideration, there can be a double edged sword with hearing aids: they create an exciting new world of sounds for you, but they also represent a substantial modification of your life. If your someone who enjoys a very rigid routine, the change can be difficult. There are very particular hurdles with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is mostly about learning how to adjust to these devices.
Guidelines to Help You Adapt More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Whether it’s your first pair of hearing aids (congrats!) or an upgrade to a more robust set, any new hearing aid will represent a significant improvement in the way you hear. Depending on your personal circumstances, that might be a big adjustment. Following these tips might make your transition a bit more comfortable.
When You First Get Your Hearing Aids Only Wear Them Intermittently
The more you wear your hearing aids, as a basic rule, the healthier your ears will stay. But if you’re breaking in your very first pair, using your devices for 18 hours a day can be quite uncomfortable. You could begin by trying to wear your hearing aids for 8 hours at a time, and then gradually build up your stamina.
Pay Attention to Conversations For Practice
When you first start using your hearing aids, your brain will probably need a little bit of time to get used to the idea that it’s able to hear sounds again. During this transition period, it may be tough to follow conversations or make out speech clearly. But practicing with listening or reading drills (such as reading along to an audiobook) can allow the language-hearing-and-interpreting part of your brain to wake back up.
Take The Time to Get a Hearing Aid Fitting
Even before you get your final hearing aid, one of the first things you will have to do – is go through a fitting process. The fitting process assists in adjusting the device for your individual loss of hearing, differences in the size and shape of your ear canal, and help maximize comfort. Several adjustment might be required. It’s important to take these fittings seriously – and to consult us for follow-up appointments. Your device will sound more natural and will sit more comfortably if they fit properly. We can also assist you in making adjustments to different hearing conditions.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes adjusting to a new hearing aid is a little difficult because something’s not functioning properly. If there’s too much feedback that can be uncomfortable. It can also be infuriating when the hearing aid keeps falling out. It can be hard to adapt to hearing aids because of these types of problems, so it’s a good idea to find solutions as soon as possible. Try these tips:
- Consult your hearing specialist to be sure that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your loss of hearing.
- Talk over any ringing or buzzing with your hearing expert. Occasionally, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other situations, it may be that we have to make some adjustments.
- If you notice a lot of feedback, ensure that your hearing aids are properly sitting in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a little off) and that there aren’t any blockages (earwax for instance).
- Charge your hearing aids every evening or exchange the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to diminish, they often don’t work as effectively as they’re meant to.
The Rewards of Adapting to Your New Hearing Aids
It may take a bit of time to adapt to your new hearing aids just as it would with a new pair of glasses. Ideally, with the help of these suggestions, that adjustment period will go a bit more smoothly (and quickly). But if you stick with it – if you get yourself into a regimen with your hearing aids and really invest in adjusting to them – you’ll be pleasantly surprised 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 hearing: like your favorite programs or music or the daily discussions you’ve been missing. These sounds will remind you that all those adjustments are worth it ultimately. And sometimes change is not a bad thing.