Tips to Adapting to New Hearing Aids

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People normally don't like change. Taking this into consideration, there can be a double edged sword with hearing aids: they open up an exciting new world of sounds for you, but they also signify a substantial transformation of your life. If your someone who enjoys a very rigid routine, the change can be difficult. New hearing aids can introduce a few distinct difficulties. But making this change positive is largely about understanding how to adjust to these devices.

Tips to Help You Adapt More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids

Whether it's your first set of hearing aids (congrats!) or an upgrade to a more powerful pair, any new hearing aid will be a considerable enhancement to the way you hear. Dependant on your individual situation, that could be quite an adjustment. Utilizing these tips may make your transition a little more comfortable.

Begin Using Your Hearing Aids in Smaller Doses

The more you wear your hearing aids, as a basic rule, the healthier your ears will stay. But if you're breaking in your very first pair, wearing your devices for 18 hours a day can be quite unpleasant. You might start by trying to use your hearing aids for 8 hours at a time, and then steadily build up your stamina.

Pay Attention to Conversations For Practice

When your brain first begins to hear sound again it will most likely need a transition period. You may have a tough time making out speech clearly or following conversations during this adjustment period. But if you want to reset the hearing-language-and-interpreting portion of your brain, you can try practicing techniques such as following along with an audiobook.

Get a Fitting For Your Hearing Aids

One of the first things you'll do – even before you receive your final hearing aids – is go through a fitting process. Enhancing comfort, taking account of the shape and size of your ear canal, and adjusting for your personal hearing loss are all things that a fitting can help with. More than one adjustment may be required. It's essential to come see us for follow-up appointments and to take these fittings seriously. Your hearing aids will sound better and will sit more comfortably if they fit well. We can also assist you in making adjustments to different hearing conditions.

Troubleshoot

Sometimes when you first get your hearing aid something is not working right and it becomes difficult to adjust to it. If there is too much feedback that can be uncomfortable. It can also be frustrating when the hearing aid keeps cutting out. These kinds of problems can make it overwhelming to adjust to your hearing aids, so it's a good idea to find solutions as soon as you can. Try these guidelines:

• Ask your hearing professional to double check that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your loss of hearing.
• If you notice a lot of feedback, ensure that your hearing aids are properly sitting in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a bit off) and that there are no blockages (earwax for instance).
• Charge your hearing aids every evening or replace the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decrease, they often do not perform as efficiently as they're meant to.
• Talk over any buzzing or ringing with your hearing expert. At times, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other cases, it may be that we have to make some adjustments.

Adapting to Your New Hearing Aids Has Its Rewards

It might take a little time to adjust to your new hearing aids just as it would with new glasses. We hope you will have a smoother and quicker transition with these guidelines. But if you stay with it – if you get yourself into a regimen with your hearing aids and really invest in adapting to them – you'll be pleasantly surprised by how it all becomes second-nature. But pretty soon you will be able to place your attention on what your hearing: like the daily conversation you've been missing out on or your favorite music. In the end, all these adjustments are well worth it. And change is good.