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 experience a tremendous change but they also will bring exciting new possibilities. That amount of change can be a challenge, specifically if you’re somebody that enjoys the placid comfort of your everyday routine. There are very specific challenges with new hearing aids. But knowing how to adapt to these devices can help ensure your new hearing aids will be a change you will welcome.
Tips to Help You Adjust More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Whether it’s your first set of hearing aids (congrats!) or an improvement to a more robust pair, any new hearing aid will be a considerable improvement to the way you hear. That could be challenging depending on your situation. Utilizing these guidelines might make your transition a bit more comfortable.
Start Using Your Hearing Aids in Smaller Doses
The more you use your hearing aids, as a general rule, the healthier your ears will stay. But it can be a somewhat uncomfortable when you’re breaking them in if you use them for 18 hours a day. You might start by trying to wear your hearing aids for 8 hours at a time, and then steadily build up your endurance.
Practice Listening to Conversations
When your brain first begins to hear sound again it will likely need an adjustment period. You might have a tough time making out speech with clarity or following conversations during this adjustment time. But practicing using reading or listening drills (such as reading along to an audiobook) can help the language-hearing-and-interpreting portion of your brain wake back up.
Have Your Hearing Aids Fitted
Even before you get your final hearing aids, one of the first things you will have to do – is go through a fitting process. The fitting procedure assists in adjusting the device to your individual hearing loss, differences in the size and shape of your ear canal, and help improve comfort. More than one adjustment may be required. It’s crucial to take these fittings seriously – and to consult us for follow-up appointments. Your hearing aids will sound better and will sit more comfortably if they fit properly. Adjustments to various conditions can also be made by us.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes adapting to a new hearing aid is somewhat difficult because something’s not functioning properly. Possibly you hear too much feedback (which can be painful). Or the hearing aid keeps cutting out (which can be frustrating). These types of issues can make it hard to adapt to your hearing aids, so it’s a good idea to find solutions as early as possible. Try these guidelines:
- Talk over any buzzing or ringing with your hearing specialist. Occasionally, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other instances, it could be that we have to make some adjustments.
- If you notice a lot of feedback, make sure that your hearing aids are correctly seated in your ears (it might be that your fit is just a little off) and that there aren’t any obstructions (earwax for instance).
- Consult your hearing professional to double check that the hearing aids are properly calibrated to your loss of hearing.
- Charge your hearing aids every night or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decrease, they often don’t perform as effectively as they’re intended 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 like it would with a new pair of glasses. Hopefully, with the help of these tips, that adjustment period will go a little bit more smoothly (and quickly). But you will be surprised how simple it will become if you stay with it and find a routine. And once that takes place, you’ll be capable of devoting your attention to the things you’re actually hearing: like your favorite shows 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.