Congratulations! You’ve just been fitted for your new pair of hearing aids, and you can’t wait to hear in a whole new way. But adjusting to new hearing aids doesn’t happen overnight, and you’ll need a few days to get used to your new devices, learn how to get the most out of them, and train your brain to process all these new sounds. If your hearing loss is severe, it might take you up to a week to get comfortable with your new devices, since hearing specialists agree that adjusting to new hearing aids takes a bit longer the worse your hearing loss is. Whatever your level of hearing loss, here are a few tips to help you adjust to your new hearing aids.
Learn About Your Hearing Aids
A hearing aid is a sophisticated piece of technology, almost like a mini computer, and your devices have a wealth of programs and settings that cater to your every need. Learning what all these settings are and how to use them will take some time, and a bit of patience. Mastering the programs and settings on your hearing aids is the key to making them work for you. Today’s hearing aids are easy to use, and many have automated settings, so programs switch when you change listening environments, all without you having to lift a finger. Even if your hearing aids are mostly automatic, it’s still important that you take the time to learn about your hearing aids, and when you should be using each program.
During consultations with us at Preferred Hearing or during your first fitting, be sure to ask as many questions as you can. We’ll show you how to replace the batteries, perform basic maintenance, and explain programs and settings. If you have more questions, don’t be afraid to ask, and make sure you really understand how your devices work.
Be Confident in Switching Between Programs
The key to being confident when making changes is a lot of practice. For the first week, adjust your hearing aids every time the listening environment changes, and test your knowledge of your device. Make sure you’re very comfortable making these changes. For example, when switching between watching TV, driving across town, or having coffee with a friend, you need to know what program to use, and how to change it easily.
Practice Makes Perfect
Now that you have a new hearing aid, it’s important to practice listening. Hearing aids give you a whole new way to hear, and you have to adjust to all the new sounds around you. Start small. Practice listening to the TV, and give yourself time to adjust to how the hearing aid is changing what you hear. Read aloud, and listen to how the sound of your voice has changed. Then try going for a walk, having a friend over for tea, or running errands. When you’ve practiced listening, and are comfortable with your hearing aids, you can go enjoy dinner with the family, and be amazed at how much easier it is to enjoy conversations.
Hearing in Background Noise
One of the hardest listening environments, both with or without hearing aids, is following conversations in a place with lots of background noise, like dinner in a restaurant. When adjusting to your hearing aids, this can be overwhelming, as all those background sounds that usually seem far away or fuzzy become very clear. You’ll have to re-train your brain to ignore these sounds, and focus in on the important sounds.
Don’t Get Overwhelmed
Adjusting to hearing aids takes some time. You’re suddenly hearing a whole new world of sounds, and this can be overwhelming and exhausting. During the first week, it’s okay if you need to take your hearing aids out from time to time to give your brain and ears a break. Let it take a few days, and don’t rush the adjustment period.
My Hearing Centers is Here to Help
At My Hearing Centers, we’ve helped hundreds of people just like you treat their hearing loss, and we know what it takes to adjust to your new hearing devices. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions, or use us as a resource if you get stuck. We’re here to make sure your hearing aid is comfortable, and working with you to give you great hearing.