People typically don’t like change. Looked at through that perspective, hearing aids can represent a double-edged sword: your life will go through an enormous change but they also will allow exciting new opportunities. If your someone who enjoys a very fixed routine, the change can be difficult. There are very specific challenges with new hearing aids. 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 Adapt More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Your hearing will be significantly enhanced whether you are getting your first hearing aids or upgrading to a more powerful design. Dependant on your personal circumstances, that might represent quite an adjustment. But your transition may be a little bit easier if you follow these tips.
Begin Wearing Your Hearing Aids in Smaller Doses
The more you wear your hearing aids, as a general rule, the healthier your ears will be. But it can be a somewhat uncomfortable when you’re breaking them in if you use them for 18 hours a day. You could start by trying to use your hearing aids for 8 hours at a time, and then steadily build up your endurance.
Pay Attention to Conversations For Practice
When you first start using your hearing aids, your brain will likely need a little bit of time to become accustomed 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 with clarity. But if you want to reset the hearing-language-and-interpreting part of your brain, you can try doing exercises such as following along with an audiobook.
Get a Fitting For Your Hearing Aids
One of the initial things you’ll do – even before you receive your final hearing aids – is go through a fitting process. Maximizing comfort, taking account of the size and shape of your ear canal, and adjusting for your individual hearing loss are all things that a fitting helps with. You may require more than one adjustment. It’s important to consult us for follow-up appointments and to be serious about these fittings. Your hearing aids will sound more natural and will sit more comfortably if they fit properly. We can also help you make adjustments to various hearing environments.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes when you first get your hearing aid something may not be working properly and it becomes hard to adjust to it. Maybe you hear too much feedback (which can be painful). It can also be frustrating when the hearing aid keeps cutting out. These types of issues can make it overwhelming to adjust to your hearing aids, so it’s best to find solutions as soon as you can. Try these tips:
- Charge your hearing aids every evening or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to diminish, they normally do not perform as effectively as they’re meant to.
- Consult your hearing expert to be sure that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your loss of hearing.
- If you hear a lot of feedback, make sure that your hearing aids are correctly seated in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a little off) and that there aren’t any blockages (earwax for instance).
- Talk over any buzzing or ringing with your hearing professional. Sometimes, your cell phone can cause interference with your hearing aid. In other situations, it could be that we have to make some adjustments.
The Rewards of Adjusting to Your New Hearing Aids
Just as it could with a new pair of glasses, it will probably take you a small amount of time to adjust to your new hearing aids. We hope, with the help of these recommendations, that adjustment period will proceed somewhat more smoothly (and quickly). But you will be surprised how natural it will become if you stick with it and find a routine. But before too long you will be able to put your attention on what your listening to: like your favorite programs or music or the daily conversations you’ve been missing. In the end, all these adjustments are well worth it. And change is good.