You finally obtained those new hearing aids. You’re so thrilled to be able to dive into your social life again. No more bad transitions or confused conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t seem quite right.
The reason for this is that it will normally take some time before you adjust to your new hearing aids. Often, this transition can be frustrating. After all, there was so much you were looking forward to, and that adjustment period just feels so long.
But there are several tips you can practice to minimize this transition period. Before long, with a bit of practice, you will be focusing on what you’re hearing rather than your hearing aids.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little while to get accustomed to hearing certain sounds again no matter how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Use these tips to start slowly and purposely give your ears time to adapt.:
- At first, try to pay attention to one-on-one conversations: You could be setting yourself up for disappointment if you wear your hearing aids in a crowded environment on the first day. It’s just that it’s hard for your ear and brain to deal with focusing on all those different voices. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition smoother and also get a little extra practice.
- Use your hearing aids only around the house at first: When you’re at home, you have much more control over what you’re hearing, and you’ll likely experience significantly less noise pollution. This means you can concentrate on one voice at a time.
- Use your hearing aids for a short duration: A few hours at a time is the most you should use your hearing aids when you first start out. They may feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start a little bit at a time. You can start to use your hearing aids for longer durations as you become accustomed to them.
Get extra 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. You could even have a little fun!
- Simply practice hearing: That’s right: sit in a quiet room and let your ears do the hearing. Begin by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This similar exercise can also be really enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make associations between words and sounds by using this read along technique.
- Turn on closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: Turn on the TV, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the characters speak, and your brain will start remembering what all these words sound like. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
Tips to keep your hearing health up
Of course, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your hearing as healthy as you can. But, as you take some time to get used to your new hearing aids, there are a few things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- If you have any pain, make sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t be painful. So if you’re noticing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to report it as soon as possible.
- Keep visiting us: You may not think you need to get hearing evaluations anymore after you get your hearing aids. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can continue to monitor your hearing, make sure the fit is comfortable, and make any required adjustments. These follow up visits are very important.
Be patient, and build up to full-time hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to using your hearing aids full time. Everyone’s different but the slow and steady strategy often works best. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can assist you with.
Following these tips (and tips like them) can help make sure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep wearing them because they continue to enhance your life.
