Getting hearing aids can be a big adjustment. Even if you’ve had hearing loss for a long time, suddenly being able to hear more clearly takes some getting used to. With time and patience, hearing aids can improve your life tremendously. Follow these tips and tricks to help you adjust to your new hearing aids.
Getting Used to How Your Hearing Aids Sound
At first, sounds through your hearing aids may seem loud, distorted, or overwhelmingly detailed. This is normal in the beginning. Your brain needs time to get accustomed to processing more auditory information. Here are some ways to help your brain adjust:
- Start by wearing your only for short periods of time at first, like an hour a day, and gradually increase your wearing time. This allows your brain to slowly get used to the new sounds.
- Practice listening to speech and music while wearing your hearing aids. The more you listen through them, the quicker your brain will accommodate.
- Ask family and friends to speak slowly and clearly at first. As your brain adapts, you’ll be able to understand faster, less clear speech.
- Be patient with yourself. Adjusting to hearing aid sound is a process. With daily wear, it will start sounding natural.
Fine-Tuning Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids come programmed to amplify based on your hearing test results. However, you may find certain frequencies and volumes uncomfortable. Schedule follow-up appointments with your audiologist to tweak the programming so it works for your specific hearing needs and preferences.
- Note situations where sounds seem too loud, muted, sharp, or distorted through the hearing aids. Your audiologist can adjust the amplification and frequency response.
- Request volume adjustments if certain environments are too loud or quiet. For example, you may need more amplification for softly spoken conversations.
- Ask about features like directional microphones or noise reduction to help in noisy places. Your audiologist can create customized programs for different environments.
Practicing Communication Strategies
help you hear better, you also need to retrain your communication skills. Practice having conversations while wearing your hearing aids to get used to listening again.
- Face the person speaking and stay close to them to maximize how much you hear.
- Pay attention to facial expressions and visual cues to help you understand.
- Ask the speaker to get your attention before starting to talk.
- Request that people speak slowly and clearly rather than shout.
- Don’t be afraid to say you didn’t catch what was said and ask for repetition.
Getting Comfortable Handling Hearing Aids
Hearing aids take some maneuvering with adjusting controls, inserting in your ears properly, and taking them in and out. With regular wear, handling them will become second nature.
- Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for how to use your specific model. Practice the basics like turning them on and off, changing batteries, and cleaning.
- Try different tips like domes or molds until you find the type that fits your ears comfortably and securely. This improves sound quality.
- Place them in your ears carefully and check the fit. They should rest snugly in your ear without falling out.
- Consult your audiologist if you have trouble getting a comfortable, secure fit. They can adjust the devices or fit you with custom molded tips.
Caring for Your Hearing Aids
To get the most out of your hearing aids, be diligent about daily maintenance and cleaning.
- Keep the hearing aids in a safe, dry container when storing them to avoid moisture damage or losing them.
- Replace batteries regularly. Keep spare batteries handy for when they run out.
- Clean the earpieces and tubes daily to prevent earwax buildup, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Visit your audiologist regularly for professional cleanings and device checks.
- Protect hearing aids from excessive heat, moisture, and chemicals that can damage them.
Troubleshooting Common Hearing Aid Problems
Hearing aids can sometimes malfunction or stop working. If issues arise:
- Check the batteries and replace them if needed. Low batteries are a common culprit.
- Inspect the earpieces for blockages from earwax and clean if dirty. Buildup can muffle sound.
- Turn them off and on again or reinsert them to reset the connection and electronics.
- If devices get wet, dry them immediately with an air blower and rice. Moisture can cause malfunction.
- Consult your audiologist if problems persist for device assessment and repair. Don’t attempt to fix complex issues yourself.
Adjusting Mentally and Emotionally
In addition to physical adjustments, hearing aids require mental adaptation. Sudden improvements in hearing can be emotionally overwhelming. Give yourself time to process the changes.
- Feeling irritated by new sounds and stimulation is normal. Stick with wearing your devices and this irritation will subside.
- If conversations are mentally tiring at first, rest your ears afterward. Mental effort decreases with practice listening.
- Be patient with mistakes like missing parts of conversation. Your hearing abilities will steadily improve.
- Communicate openly with family and friends about what helps you hear best. They’ll be glad to support you.
- Stay motivated by focusing on goals like communicating better with loved ones. The benefits outweigh the frustrations.
Benefitting Your Overall Health
Adjusting to hearing aids not only improves hearing, but it also provides broader health benefits. Being able to communicate better reduces isolation and cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss.
- Hearing speech clearly reduces strain on cognitive functions like focus and memory.
- You’ll be able to engage fully in conversations and activities you enjoy rather than feeling left out.
- Treating hearing loss lowers risks of dementia, falls, depression, and other effects of isolation.
- Relationships often improve because communication is easier and frustrations decrease.
Committing to consistent hearing aid use maximizes their positive impacts on your physical, mental, and social well-being. Like all lifestyle adjustments, adapting to hearing aids takes dedication but brings tremendous rewards. With patience and support from professionals and loved ones, you’ll soon be thriving with your new hearing abilities. The benefits of clearer hearing and communication make the adjustment period well worth it.