You finally got your 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 normally take some time before you get used to your new hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. After all, there was so much you were looking forward to, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
Luckily, there are some tips that can help quicken the transition process. With a little practice, you can quickly get yourself to a space where you’re paying less attention to hearing aids, and paying more attention to what you’re hearing.
Tips that help you start Slowly
No matter how technologically sophisticated they may be, it’s going to take your brain some time to adjust to hearing certain sounds again. Use these tips to start slowly and purposely give your ears time to adjust.:
- Only wear your hearing aids for short amounts of time to begin with: When you’re just beginning, you can practice by using your hearing aids for only a few hours at a time. They may feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start slowly. You can begin to use your hearing aids for longer periods as you become accustomed to them.
- Wear your hearing aids only around the house initially: You’ll be less likely to experience noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a better amount of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This means you can focus on one voice at a time.
- At first, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: If you wear your hearing aids while eating at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you might be discouraged, not because the hearing aids are doing anything wrong. When the brain needs to pay attention to all those voices, it can get overloaded at first. Staying with one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a little extra practice, too).
Tips that help you get added practice in
There are some things you can do, as with any skill, that can help you with hearing aid practice. You could even have some fun!
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This is a very similar exercise (and lets you get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Reading and listening to an audiobook simultaneously will help your brain make associations between sounds and words.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, turn on the television, and watch your favorite show. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like as you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
- Just practice hearing: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Start out by focusing on the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
Strengthen your hearing health with these tips
Keeping your ears as healthy as possible, after all, is one of the main purposes of hearing aids. And there are a few tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get accustomed to using your new hearing aid:
- 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 help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. These follow up appointments are very important.
- If you have any pain, make sure you take note of it and report it to us.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t hurt. So if you’re experiencing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to let us know as soon as you can.
Take your time, and build up to full-time hearing aids
Working your way up to using your hearing aids full time is the goal here. A slow and steady approach works quite often, but everybody’s different. Learning the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
Implementing these tips (and tips like them) can help ensure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep wearing them because they continue to enhance your life.