You finally got those new hearing aids. You’re finally going to be able to get back into the groove of your social life again. No more missed transitions or unclear conversations. But there’s an issue: everything sounds just a little off.
The reason for this is that it will usually take some time before you get used to your new hearing aids. Sometimes, this transition can be annoying. You were so excited about enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s taking so long.
Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help speed up the transition process. Pretty soon, with a bit of practice, you will be paying attention to what you’re hearing rather than your hearing aids.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are a few ways you can purposely give yourself time to adjust and take it slowly:
- Start 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 considerably 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 get started. They may feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start slowly. You can start to wear your hearing aids for longer periods as you become accustomed to them.
- Start with one-on-one conversations first: If you use your hearing aids while eating at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you could be discouraged, not because the devices aren’t working. It’s just that it’s difficult for your ear and brain to manage focusing on all those different voices. Staying with one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a little extra practice, too).
Get added practice with these tips
There are some things you can do, as with any skill, that can help you with hearing aid practice. Some of these are even fun!
- Simply practice hearing: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and take in the sounds around you. You can practice by concentrating on trying to hear the fridge running or the cat meowing in the other room or the birds chirping outside.
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the printed book: This comparable exercise can also be quite enjoyable. Reading and listening to an audiobook simultaneously will help your brain make connections between sounds and words.
- Watch TV with the closed-captions enabled: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. Your brain will begin remembering what certain words sound like as you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This can give you some practice hearing and adjusting to speech.
Improve your hearing health with these tips
Obviously, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your hearing as healthy as possible. 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.:
- Be certain to take note of and let us know about any pain: Because it shouldn’t hurt to wear hearing aids. So if you’re noticing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to let us know as soon as you can.
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to believe that once you have the right hearing aids, you won’t need to see us anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help adjust your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to check in on your hearing. These follow up visits are very important.
Go slow and increase your time as you get used to your hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time. Everybody’s unique but the slow and steady strategy often works best. Learning the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can assist you with.
These tips will help you live a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.
