At last, you bought a set of hearing aids. Nice job taking the first step to improve your quality of life. There are things you should learn to do and not to do with newer technology like modern hearing aids. It’s not a huge list with hearing aids, but it is an important one.
There are other considerations besides simply taking care of your hearing. The things you fail to do can make the hearing aid less useful or slow down your adjustment time. Others in your shoes have made mistakes that you can learn from. These four things that you shouldn’t do need to be taken into consideration.
1. Putting in Your Hearing Aids Right After You Buy Them
You may be overlooking powerful features if you don’t take the time to understand the basics of how your hearing aid functions and check out the features that come with the brand. More than likely, your hearing aids won’t work efficiently if you simply turn them on and start wearing them. You might also miss out on the best features like Bluetooth or noise filters.
You can work on fine-tuning the hearing aid and ascertain how to get the best sound quality by slowing down a bit and reading the documentation.
When you buy your new hearing aids you will have a general idea of what they can do. Now, spend some time learning how to use them.
2. It Takes Time For Your Ears to Adjust
Anytime you get a new pair of glasses, your eyes need time to adapt to the change in the lenses or the shape of the frame. The same goes for hearing aids. High quality sound in a new hearing aid does not happen by magic. It doesn’t work that way.
There is an adaptation period your ears will need if you are new to hearing aids. Adapting to new hearing aids quickly is all about consistency.
Put them in your ear and don’t keep taking them out. You need to resist the urge to keep taking them out. If you are uncomfortable, ask yourself why.
- Are you overwhelmed by the background noise? Every day when you first put them in you should go to a quiet place for a few minutes. Sit down with a friend and talk. Ask them if you are talking too loud. This will help you make adjustments to balance out the sound.
- Take out the hearing aid when it gets uncomfortable for short periods. Go back to the retailer and have your hearing aids inspected if they don’t really fit properly..
- Is the audio too loud? Maybe you need to turn the volume down.
The biggest mistake you can make is giving up. If you stuff your hearing aids in a drawer and forget about them, they won’t do you any good.
3. When You First Get Your Hearing Aid, Have it Fitted
Getting the right hearing aids begins before you start actually shopping and there is a lot to it. If you are not telling the truth about what you can and can’t hear at the hearing test at the audiologist, that’s an issue. Hearing aids that aren’t right for your type or level of hearing loss can be the result. Some hearing aids amplify a high-frequency sound by design for instance. These are not the best hearing aids for you if you don’t hear mid or low tones.
Your lifestyle, in certain cases may not seem well suited to hearing aids. Bluetooth technology is a feature that you will want if you use a phone allot.
Take note of when you think your hearing aids aren’t working right or you wish they did something different while you’re still in the trial period. You can go back and discuss those concerns with your hearing care technician. An adjustment may be needed or you may need a different device.
When you purchase your hearing aids make sure to find a seller that does free fittings. If they are too big for your ears they won’t function properly.
4. Neglected Maintenance
At times inadequate upkeep is simply a matter of not understanding when you should or shouldn’t do something or how to do it. Even if you’ve had hearing aids before you need to take the time to learn how to take care of your new device.
After you buy your hearing aids, Take a close look at at the warning signs listed in the user manual including using hair products with your hearing aids in or not turning them off when you take it out.
Also, read the troubleshooting instructions and the maintenance guide.
Understand precisely how to clean your hearing aids because that’s a big part of good maintenance. Don’t stop at only cleaning the device, either. Find out what the manufacturer suggests for cleaning your ears, too.
If you want to get the most from your hearing aids, it’s up to you. It’s an ongoing process from shopping to use. Get a hearing test with a hearing specialist to learn what type of hearing aid will best fit your needs.