People normally don’t like change. Looked at through that perspective, 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. If your somebody who enjoys a very fixed routine, the change can be hard. There are very particular hurdles with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is primarily about knowing how to adjust to these devices.
Guidelines to Help You Adjust More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids
Your hearing will be significantly improved whether you are getting your first hearing aids or upgrading to a more powerful design. That could be quite a challenge depending on your circumstances. But your transition might be a bit smoother if you follow these guidelines.
Begin Wearing Your Hearing Aids in Smaller Doses
The more you use 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 hearing aids for 18 hours a day can be quite uncomfortable. You could try to build up your endurance by starting with 8 hours and increasing from there.
Listen to Conversations For Practice
When your brain is first able to hear sound again it will likely need an adjustment period. During this adjustment period, it may be hard 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 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 have to do – is go through a fitting process. The fitting procedure assists in adjusting the device to your individual loss of hearing, differences in the size and shape of your ear canal, and help maximize comfort. More than one adjustment might be required. It’s essential to come see us for follow-up appointments and to take these fittings seriously. When your hearing aids fit properly, your devices will sit more comfortably and sound more natural. We can also help you make adjustments to different hearing conditions.
Troubleshoot
Sometimes when you first get your hearing aid something may not be working properly and it becomes difficult to adapt to it. Maybe you hear too much feedback (which can be painful). It can also be infuriating when the hearing aid keeps cutting out. These types of issues can make it overwhelming to adapt to your hearing aids, so it’s best to find solutions as soon as you can. Try these tips:
- If you hear a lot of feedback, make sure that your hearing aids are properly sitting in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a little off) and that there are no obstructions (earwax for instance).
- talk about any ringing or buzzing with your hearing specialist. At times, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other instances, it may be that we need to make some adjustments.
- Consult your hearing expert to be certain that the hearing aids are properly calibrated to your loss of hearing.
- Charge your hearing aids every day or exchange the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decrease, they normally do not work as effectively as they’re meant to.
Adapting to Your New Hearing Aids Has Its Advantages
It may take a bit of time to adjust to your new hearing aids just like it would with new glasses. We hope you will have an easier and faster transition with these suggestions. But you will be pleased by how natural it will become if you stick with it and find a routine. And once that occurs, you’ll be able to devote your attention to the things you’re actually hearing: like your favorite programs or music or the daily interactions you’ve been missing. These sounds remind you that all those adjustments are worth it in the end. And sometimes change is not a bad thing.