You finally obtained those new hearing aids. You’re so excited to be able to dive into your social life again. No more missed transitions or confused conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t sound quite right.
The reason for this is that it will often take some time before you get used to your new hearing aids. Sometimes, this transition can be frustrating. After all, there was so much you were looking forward to, and that adjustment period just feels so long.
Luckily, there are a few tips that can help speed up the transition process. Pretty soon, with a little practice, you will be paying attention to what you’re hearing rather than your hearing aids.
Tips that help you start Slowly
No matter how technologically advanced they might be, it’s going to take your brain a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again. Use these tips to start slowly and purposely give your ears time to adapt.:
- First, try to pay attention to one-on-one conversations: If you wear your hearing aids while dining at a crowded restaurant on your first day you get them, you may be disappointed, not because the devices are doing anything wrong. When the brain has to pay attention to all those voices, it can become overloaded at first. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition smoother and also get a little additional practice.
- Use your hearing aids only around the house at first: You’ll be less likely to experience noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a greater amount of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This will help you concentrate on individual voices.
- Only wear your hearing aids for short periods of time to begin with: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first get started. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start slowly. You can begin to wear your hearing aids for longer durations as you become accustomed to them.
Get additional practice with these tips
Much like any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are certain activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. Some of these are even enjoyable!
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This comparable exercise can also be quite enjoyable. Reading and listening to an audiobook together will help your brain make associations between words and sound.
- Do some listening practice: That’s right: sit in a quiet room and let your ears do the hearing. You can practice by concentrating on trying to hear the fridge running or the cat meowing in another room or the birds chirping outside.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put your hearing aids in, turn on the television, and watch your favorite program. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the characters talk, and your brain will begin to remember what all these words sound like. This sort of practice will help you adjust to understanding speech again.
Tips to keep your hearing health up
Keeping your ears as healthy as you can, after all, is one of the primary purposes of hearing aids. And there are some tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get used to using your new hearing aid:
- Keep visiting us: You might not think you need to get hearing exams anymore after you get your hearing aids. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can continue to track your hearing, make sure the fit is comfortable, and make any needed adjustments. These follow up appointments are really important.
- If you have any pain, make sure you document it and tell us about it.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t hurt. So it’s important to let us know about any problems with fit or any pain right away.
Go slow and increase your time as you get accustomed to your hearing aids
Your goal here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time. A slow and steadfast strategy works quite often, but everybody’s different. You’ll want to get personalized guidance from us on the best way for you to get accustomed to your new hearing aid.
These tips will help you live a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.