Have you just taken the first steps towards treating your hearing loss? If so, congratulations are in order! Hearing loss is commonly under-diagnosed and undertreated. In fact, most people wait an average of seven to ten years from the time they suspect an issue to act around their loss. Now that you are about to start wearing your first set of hearing aids, you are on the precipice of a new chapter of your life where you will be able to hear the people in your life with new clarity which often empowers people to connect closer with loved ones and be willing to try new things each day.
However, hearing aids aren’t like glasses. When you put on a new pair of properly prescribed glasses your eyes are immediately corrected. Hearing aids take time to adjust to. The important thing to remember is to not give up. When you give yourself the chance to acclimate to hearing aids a whole new world of better communication awaits you. We’ve got you covered with some important tips to help you get used to your new hearing aids!
Getting Used to Hearing Aids
Hearing loss often takes years to get to the point where people are willing to treat it. Over the years, your brain may have become used to the loss of some sounds you will hear again once you start wearing hearing aids. Give your brain a chance to get used to these sounds you may not have heard in a decade or more. Even the sound of your own voice may be jarring at first. Even chewing and swallowing may sound downright loud at first. Just remember that these sensations will dissipate as you acclimate to new hearing aids.
Wear them at home first
Before you go out into the streets with your new hearing aids, give yourself some time to get used to them at home. Noisy listening environments are difficult for every one of every hearing ability to navigate, however, for those with hearing loss, prioritizing the sounds you need to hear amongst many others can be exhausting and confusing. By beginning your hearing aid journey in a quiet and controlled environment such as your own home it gives you a moment to acquaint yourself with your new devices. To get used to the sound of your voice with hearing aids try reading aloud.
Give yourself homework
Getting used to hearing aids takes practice, especially when it comes to localization of sound. You see, we don’t only rely on our heart to follow conversations and respond, but to help us navigate spaces around us. We do this with localization which clues us into the direction, proximity and approaching speed of sounds in our environment. Practice listening to determine the direction of the sounds in your home. You can also try listening to audiobooks or the radio to acclimate to new sounds.
Take breaks
Ideally you will wear your hearing aids from the moment you wake up till the moment you go to sleep. This will make you poised and ready to hear any sound throughout your day. However, to start, just wear them a little at a time. The first few days just wear them a couple of hours and slowly build up over two weeks to wearing them throughout the whole day.
Attend follow-up visits
We will test your hearing and program them to our best ability so you can hear the sounds you need to hear; however, we may not get it completely correct on our first try. We rely on your feedback to make sure you are getting the best amplification possible. In addition another key component is hearing aid fit. When the fit isn’t completely secure it can cause feedback or discomfort. Give us a few tries to get it correct. Schedule follow-up visits as you need to fine-tune the sounds and fit.
Don’t Give Up!
It can be frustrating at first when getting used to your new hearing aids. However, we urge you to not give up. The good news is that you have a whole team of hearing healthcare professionals behind you to help you hear better in every area of your life. On the other side we assure you is a life of clearer hearing, better connections, and an enhanced quality of life. Contact us today to schedule your next hearing exam!