You finally obtained your new hearing aids. You’re so thrilled to be able to dive into your social life again. No more missed transitions or unclear conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t seem quite right.
The reason for this is that it will usually take a bit of time before you get used to your new hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. You were so excited about enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s hard to be patient.
But there are some tips you can use to minimize this transition period. With some practice, you can quickly get yourself to a place where you’re thinking less about your hearing aids, and paying more attention to what you’re hearing.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again no matter how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are a few ways you can purposely give yourself time to adjust and take it slowly:
- Begin by using your hearing aids at home only: When you’re at home, you have much more control over what you’re hearing, and you’ll likely experience substantially less noise pollution. This will help you concentrate on individual voices.
- Use your hearing aids for a short period of time: When you’re just beginning, you can practice by using your hearing aids for just a few hours at a time. Your hearing aids will probably feel a little strange in your ears for a while so beginning gradually is fine. You can begin to use your hearing aids for longer periods as you get used to them.
- Start with one-on-one conversations first: You might be setting yourself up for frustration if you wear your hearing aids in a noisy setting on the first day. It’s just that it’s tough for your ear and brain to deal with focusing on all those different voices. By starting out with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition smoother and also get a bit of extra practice.
Get extra practice with these tips
There are some things you can do, as with any skill, that can help you with hearing aid practice. You might even have a little fun!
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, flip on the TV, and watch your favorite program. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like when you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
- Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This similar exercise can also be really enjoyable. Reading and listening to an audiobook concurrently will help your brain make connections between words and sound.
- Do some listening practice: That’s right: Sit someplace a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Start out by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
Tips to keep your hearing health up
Of course, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your hearing as healthy as you can. But, as you take some time to get accustomed to your new hearing aids, there are some things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- If you have any pain, make sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t be painful. So it’s important to let us know about any issues with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: You may not think you need to get hearing evaluations anymore after you get your hearing aids. This would be a bad idea. We can help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to check in on your hearing. These follow up appointments are very important.
Go slow and increase your time as you get used to your hearing aids
Working your way up to using your hearing aids full time is the goal here. Everybody’s unique but the slow and steady approach often works best. You’ll want to get personalized guidance from us on the best way for you to get accustomed to your new hearing aid.
Sticking with these tips (and tips like them) can help make sure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep using them because they continue to enrich your life.