People normally don’t like change. Experienced through that perspective, hearing aids can be a double-edged sword: your life will go through a tremendous change but they also will allow exciting new opportunities. That level of change can be tricky, especially if you’re the type of person that has come to embrace the placid comfort of your daily routine. There are very specific hurdles with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is largely about learning how to adjust to these devices.
Here Are Some Quick Suggestion to Adapt to Your New Hearing Aids
Your hearing will be dramatically improved whether you are getting your first hearing aids or upgrading to a more powerful model. Dependant on your personal circumstances, that may be quite an adjustment. But your transition might be a bit easier if you follow these guidelines.
When You First Get Your Hearing Aids Only Wear Them Intermittently
The more you use your hearing aids, as a general rule, the healthier your ears will be. But it can be a little uncomfortable when you’re getting used to them if you wear them for 18 hours a day. You might start by trying to use your hearing aids for 8 hours intervals, and then slowly build up your stamina.
Practice Listening to Conversations
When your brain first begins to hear sound again it will probably need an adjustment period. During this transition period, it may be difficult to follow conversations or make out speech with clarity. But if you want to reset the hearing-language-and-interpreting portion of your brain, you can try doing exercises like reading along with an audiobook.
Have Your Hearing Aids Fitted
Even before you get your final hearing aids, one of the first things you will do – is go through a fitting process. The fitting process helps adjust the device for your individual hearing loss, differences in the size and shape of your ear canal, and help improve comfort. More than one adjustment might be required. It’s crucial to take these fittings seriously – and to see us for follow-up appointments. Your hearing aids will sound better and will sit more comfortably if they fit properly. Adjustments to various environments can also be done by us.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes adapting to a new hearing aid is a bit difficult because something’s not working properly. Possibly you hear too much feedback (which can be painful). It can also be infuriating when the hearing aid keeps falling out. These types of issues can make it overwhelming to adjust to your hearing aids, so it’s a good idea to find solutions as early as possible. Try these tips:
- If you notice a lot of feedback, ensure that your hearing aids are properly seated in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a little off) and that there are no obstructions (such as excess earwax).
- Consult your hearing specialist to double check that the hearing aids are properly calibrated to your hearing loss.
- Charge your hearing aids every night or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to diminish, they often do not perform as efficiently as they’re meant to.
- Discuss any buzzing or ringing with your hearing specialist. Sometimes, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other instances, it could be that we have to make some adjustments.
The Rewards of Adjusting to Your New Hearing Aids
It could take a little time to adjust to your new hearing aids just as it would with new glasses. Ideally, with the help of these tips, that adjustment period will proceed a little 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. And once that occurs, you’ll be capable of devoting your attention to the things you’re actually hearing: like your favorite programs or music or the daily interactions you’ve missed. These sounds will remind you that all those adjustments are worth it in the end. And sometimes change is not a bad thing.