You finally obtained your new hearing aids. You’re finally going to be able to get back into the groove of your social life again. No more missed transitions or unclear conversations. But there’s an issue: everything sounds a little bit off.
The reason for this is that it will normally take a bit of time before you get used to your new hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
The good news is, there are a few tips that can help speed up the transition process. Before long, with a bit of practice, you will be focusing on what you’re hearing instead of your hearing aids.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little time to get accustomed to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Use these tips to proceed slowly and purposely give your ears time to adjust.:
- At first, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: You could be setting yourself up for disappointment if you use your hearing aids in a crowded environment right out of the box. When the brain needs to pay attention to all those voices, it can get overloaded at first. Sticking to one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a bit of extra practice, too).
- Use your hearing aids for a short period of time: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first start out. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start a little bit at a time. As your hearing aids become more comfortable, you can use them for longer durations.
- Use your hearing aids only around the house initially: You’ll be less likely to encounter noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a better degree of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This will help you focus on individual voices.
Tips that help you get added practice in
Similar to any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are some activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. Some of these are even fun!
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This is a very similar exercise (and allows you to get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Reading and listening to an audiobook simultaneously will help your brain make associations between words and sound.
- Watch TV with the closed-captions enabled: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like as you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This kind of practice will help you get used to understanding speech again.
- Simply practice hearing: That’s right: sit in a quiet room and let your ears do the hearing. Start off by focusing on the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
Tips to keep your hearing health strong
Obviously, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your hearing as healthy as possible. But, as you take some time to get accustomed to your new hearing aids, there are some things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to presume that once you’ve got the right hearing aids, you won’t need to have anymore hearing exams. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. These follow up visits are very important.
- If you have any pain, make sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Because it shouldn’t be painful to wear hearing aids. So if you’re experiencing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to report it as soon as you can.
Go slow and increase your time as you get used to your hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to using your hearing aids all of the time. A slow and steady strategy is often effective, but everybody’s different. You’ll want to get personalized guidance from us on the best way for you to get used to your new hearing aid.
Sticking with these tips (and tips like them) can help make sure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep using them because they continue to enhance your life.