You’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. You received your new hearing aids. You’re so excited to be able to dive into your social life again. Now, you won’t be missing elements of conversations or going through awkward transitions. But your hearing aids just don’t seem quite right.
The reason for this is that it will normally take a bit of time before you get used to your new hearing aids. This can be an annoying transition. After all, there was so much you were looking forward to, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
Fortunately, there are some tips that can help quicken the transition process. Before long, with a little 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. Use these tips to proceed slowly and deliberately give your ears time to adjust.:
- Focus on 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 devices aren’t working. It’s just that it’s difficult for your ear and brain to manage focusing on all those different voices. Sticking to one-on-one conversations can help make that transition easier (and give you a bit of extra practice, too).
- 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 significantly less noise pollution. This means you can focus on one voice at a time.
- Only wear your hearing aids for short amounts 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. Your hearing aids will probably feel a little strange in your ears for a while so beginning slowly is fine. As your hearing aids become more comfortable, you can wear them for longer durations.
Tips that help you get added 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. You may even have a little fun!
- Do some listening exercise: That’s right: sit in a quiet space and let your ears do the hearing. Begin by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This comparable exercise can also be quite enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make connections between sounds and words by employing this read along approach.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put your hearing aids in, turn on the television, and watch your favorite show. As you read the words you’ll also be hearing the characters speak, and your brain will start remembering what all these words sound like. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
Tips to keep your hearing health up
Keeping your ears as healthy as possible, after all, is one of the principal purposes of hearing aids. And there are a few tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get accustomed to using your new hearing aid:
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to presume that once you’ve got the right hearing aids, you won’t need to have anymore hearing exams. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help tune your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. It’s essential to continue with these follow up appointments.
- Be certain to note and report any pain: Because it shouldn’t hurt to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any issues with fit or any pain right away.
Go slow and maximize 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. A slow and progressive strategy is often effective, but everybody’s different. Understanding 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.