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. Now, you won’t be missing elements of conversations or experiencing awkward transitions. But there’s an issue: everything sounds a little bit off.
The reason for this is that it will normally take a bit of time before you get used to your new hearing aids. Sometimes, this transition can be annoying. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so long.
But there are a few tips you can use to minimize this transition period. With a little practice, you can quickly get yourself to a place where you’re paying less attention to hearing aids, and tuning in to what you’re hearing.
Start slowly with these tips
Regardless of how technologically advanced they may be, it’s going to take your brain a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again. Use these tips to proceed slowly and deliberately give your ears time to adjust.:
- At first, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: You could be setting yourself up for frustration if you use your hearing aids in a crowded setting right out of the box. When the brain has to focus on all those voices, it can get overwhelmed at first. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition easier and also get a little additional practice.
- 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 probably experience substantially less noise pollution. This means you can focus on one voice at a time.
- Use your hearing aids for a short period of time: When you’re just starting, you can practice by wearing your hearing aids for just a few hours at a time. They may feel a little funny at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start a little bit at a time. As your hearing aids get more comfortable, you can use them for longer periods of time.
Get added practice with these tips
There are some activities, as with any skill, that can help you with hearing aid practice. You could even have a little fun!
- Just practice hearing: That’s right: sit in a quiet place and let your ears do the hearing. You can practice by concentrating on trying to hear the refrigerator running or the cat meowing in another room or the birds chirping outside.
- Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This similar exercise can also be very enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make connections between sounds and words by using this read along strategy.
- Turn on closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, flip on the television, and watch your favorite program. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the characters talk, 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.
Tips to keep your hearing health up
Keeping your ears as healthy as you can, after all, is one of the principal purposes of hearing aids. 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 sure to note and report any pain: Your hearing aids shouldn’t hurt. So it’s important to let us know about any problems with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: You may not think you need to get hearing exams anymore after you get your hearing aids. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help tune your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to check in on your hearing. It’s important to continue with these follow up visits.
Be patient, and work up to full-time hearing aids
Working your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time is the objective here. Everybody’s unique but the slow and steady approach often works best. You’ll want to get personalized guidance from us on the best way for you to get used to your new hearing aid.
These tips will help you have a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.