As a general rule, most people don’t like change. Looked at through that prism, hearing aids can represent a double-edged sword: they unlock an exciting new world of sounds for you, but they also represent a significant transformation of your life. That degree of change can be tricky, especially if you’re somebody that enjoys the quiet convenience of your regular routine. There are very particular challenges with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is largely about learning how to adjust to these devices.
Guidelines to Help You Adjust More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Your hearing will be dramatically improved whether you are getting your first hearing aids or upgrading to a more powerful model. That could be challenging depending on your situation. Utilizing these tips may make your transition a little more comfortable.
When You First Get Your Hearing Aids Only Use Them Intermittently
The more you wear your hearing aids, as a general rule, the healthier your ears will be. But if you’re breaking in your very first pair, using your devices for 18 hours per day can be quite unpleasant. You might try to build up your stamina by starting with 8 hours and building up from there.
Pay Attention to Conversations For Practice
When your brain first begins to hear sound again it will probably need an adjustment period. During this adjustment period, it might be difficult to follow conversations or hear speech clearly. But if you want to reset the hearing-language-and-interpreting portion of your brain, you can try practicing exercises such as 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. The fitting process assists in adjusting the device to your individual hearing loss, differences in the shape of your ear canal, and help enhance comfort. You may need to have more than one adjustment. It’s essential to consult us for follow-up appointments and to be serious about these fittings. When your hearing aids fit properly, your hearing aids will sit more comfortably and sound better. We can also assist you in making adjustments to different hearing environments.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes adjusting to a new hearing aid is somewhat difficult because something’s not functioning quite right. Possibly you hear too much feedback (which can be uncomfortable). Or the hearing aid keeps falling out (which can be frustrating). It can be overwhelming to adapt to hearing aids because of these kinds of problems, so it’s best to find solutions as soon as possible. Try these tips:
- Ask your hearing specialist to be certain that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your hearing loss.
- Charge your hearing aids every evening or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decline, they normally do not work as effectively as they’re meant to.
- talk about any buzzing or ringing with your hearing professional. Sometimes, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other instances, it may be that we have to make some adjustments.
- If you hear a lot of feedback, ensure that your hearing aids are properly seated in your ears (it might be that your fit is just a bit off) and that there aren’t any obstructions (such as excess earwax).
Adapting to Your New Hearing Aids Has Its Advantages
It might take a little time to adapt to your new hearing aids just like it would with new glasses. Ideally, with the help of these recommendations, that adjustment period will go a bit more smoothly (and quickly). But if you stick with it – if you put yourself into a routine with your hearing aids and really invest in adjusting to them – you’ll be pleased by how it all becomes second-nature. But pretty soon you will be able to put your attention on what your listening to: like your favorite programs or music or the daily discussions you’ve missed. These sounds remind you that all those adjustments are worth it ultimately. And sometimes change is not a bad thing.