You finally obtained those new hearing aids. You’re so thrilled to be able to jump into your social life again. No more bad transitions or confused conversations. But there’s a problem: everything sounds a little bit off.
That’s because it’ll probably take you some time to adjust to a new set of hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. You were so looking forward to enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s hard to be patient.
Fortunately, there are some tips that can help speed up the transition process. 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
Regardless of how technologically advanced they may be, it’s going to take your brain a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again. Use these tips to start slowly and deliberately give your ears time to adjust.:
- Wear your hearing aids only around the house initially: When you’re at home, you have a lot more control over what you’re hearing, and you’ll probably experience substantially less noise pollution. This will help you focus on individual voices.
- Only use your hearing aids for short periods of time at first: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first start out. Your hearing aids will probably feel a little strange in your ears for a while so starting gradually is okay. You can start to use your hearing aids for longer periods as you get used to them.
- Start with one-on-one conversations first: If you use your hearing aids while dining at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you could be discouraged, not because the hearing aids aren’t working. It’s just that it’s tough for your ear and brain to cope with focusing on all those different voices. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition easier and also get a bit of additional practice.
Tips that help you get added practice in
There are some activities, as with any skill, that can help you practice hearing. You could even have some fun!
- Do some listening practice: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Start off by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like when you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This sort of practice will help you get used to understanding speech again.
- Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This is a really similar exercise (and lets you have some fun reading while you’re at it). Reading and listening to an audiobook together will help your brain make associations between words and sound.
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 some tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get accustomed to wearing your new hearing aid:
- If you’re experiencing any pain, make sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Because it shouldn’t be painful to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any problems with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: You might 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 track your hearing, make certain the fit is comfortable, and make any needed adjustments. It’s important to continue with these follow up appointments.
Go slow and increase your time as you get accustomed to your hearing aids
Working your way up to using your hearing aids full time is the goal here. A slow and steadfast approach works quite often, but everybody’s different. You’ll want to get personalized advice from us on the best way for you to get accustomed to your new hearing aid.
These tips will help you have a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.
