You finally obtained your new hearing aids. You’re so excited to be able to jump into your social life again. No more missed transitions or confused conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t seem quite right.
That’s because it’ll most likely take you some time to adjust to a new pair of hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help speed up the transition process. Before long, with a bit of practice, you will be paying attention to what you’re hearing rather than your hearing aids.
Start slowly with these tips
Your brain will take a little time to get used to hearing certain sounds again no matter how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are some ways you can intentionally give yourself time to adjust and start things off 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 significantly less noise pollution. This will help you concentrate on individual voices.
- Initially, try to pay attention to one-on-one conversations: You may be setting yourself up for disappointment if you wear your hearing aids in a noisy environment on the first day. It’s just that it’s difficult for your ear and brain to manage focusing on all those different voices. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition easier and also get a little additional practice.
- Use your hearing aids for a short period of time: A few hours at a time is the most you should use your hearing aids when you first start out. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start slowly. You can start to wear your hearing aids for longer periods as you become accustomed to them.
Get extra practice with these tips
There are some activities, as with any skill, that can help you with hearing aid practice. Some of these are even enjoyable!
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the print version: This is a really similar exercise (and allows you to get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Reading and listening to an audiobook together will help your brain make connections between words and sound.
- Watch TV with the closed-captions enabled: It’s easy: put your hearing aids in, flip on the television, and watch your favorite program. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the actors speak, and your brain will begin to remember what all these words sound like. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
- Do some listening practice: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and experience 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.
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 used to your new hearing aids, there are some things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to think that once you have the right hearing aids, you won’t need to have anymore hearing exams. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. These follow up appointments are very important.
- Be sure to note and report any pain: Your hearing aids shouldn’t be painful. So if you’re experiencing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to let us know as soon as possible.
Go slow and increase your time as you get accustomed to your hearing aids
Working your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time is the objective here. Everyone’s different but the slow and steady approach usually works best. Learning the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
These tips will help you have a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.