You’ve been looking forward to this day for quite a while. You got your 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 confused conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t sound quite right.
That’s because it’ll likely take you some time to adjust to a new pair of hearing aids. Often, this transition can be frustrating. You were so excited about enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s hard to be patient.
Luckily, there are a few tips that can help quicken the transition process. Pretty soon, with a little practice, you will be paying attention to what you’re hearing instead of your hearing aids.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little time to get accustomed to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are some ways you can purposely give yourself time to adjust and start things off slowly:
- At first, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: If you use your hearing aids while eating at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you could be disappointed, not because the devices aren’t working. It’s just that it’s hard for your ear and brain to deal with focusing on all those different voices. Sticking to one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a little extra practice, as well).
- Start by wearing your hearing aids at home only: You’ll be less likely to encounter noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a better degree of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This will help you focus on individual voices.
- Only wear your hearing aids for short periods of time to begin with: A few hours at a time is the most you should use your hearing aids when you first start out. They may feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start slowly. As your hearing aids get more comfortable, you can wear them for longer periods of time.
Tips that help you get extra practice in
Much like any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are certain activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. Some of these are even enjoyable!
- Do some listening exercise: That’s right: Go somewhere a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Start out by focusing on the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
- Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This similar exercise can also be really enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make associations between sounds and words by employing this read along approach.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. As you read the words you’ll also be hearing the characters talk, and your brain will start remembering what all these words sound like. This kind of practice will help you get used to understanding speech again.
Improve your hearing health with these tips
Obviously, 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 used to your new hearing aids, there are a few things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- If you’re experiencing any pain, be sure you document it and tell us about it.: Because it shouldn’t hurt to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any issues with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to presume that once you have the right hearing aids, you won’t need to have anymore hearing exams. This would be the worst idea. We can continue to monitor your hearing, make certain the fit is comfortable, and make any needed adjustments. It’s essential to continue with these follow up visits.
Take your time, and work up to full-time hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time. Everybody’s different but the slow and steady strategy usually works best. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
These tips will help you live a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.