You’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. You got your new hearing aids. You’re so thrilled to be able to jump into your social life again. Now, you won’t be missing elements of conversations or going through uncomfortable transitions. But your hearing aids just don’t seem quite right.
That’s because it’ll likely take you some time to adjust to a new set of hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. You were so excited about enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s taking so long.
But there are several tips you can use to minimize this transition period. With a little practice, you can quickly get yourself to a space where you’re thinking less about your hearing aids, and tuning in to what you’re hearing.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little time to get used to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are a few ways you can deliberately give yourself time to adjust and take it slowly:
- Focus on one-on-one conversations first: If you use your hearing aids while eating at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you may be disappointed, not because the devices aren’t working. It’s just that it’s hard 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.
- Only wear your hearing aids for short periods of time to begin with: When you’re just starting, you can practice by wearing your hearing aids for just a few hours at a time. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start a little bit at a time. As your hearing aids get more comfortable, you can wear them for longer durations.
- Begin by wearing your hearing aids at home only: You’ll be less likely to encounter noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a better amount of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This means you can focus on one voice at a time.
Get added practice with these tips
As with 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 could even have some fun!
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the printed book: This is a very similar exercise (and lets you have some fun reading while you’re at it). Your brain will learn to make associations between sounds and words by employing this read along approach.
- Do some listening practice: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and take in the sounds around you. Start out by focusing on the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
- Watch TV with the closed-captions on: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. As you read the words 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 adjusting to speech.
Tips to keep your hearing health strong
Keeping your ears as healthy as you can, after all, is one of the primary 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 let us know about any pain: Because it shouldn’t be painful to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any problems with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: You might not think you need to get hearing assessments anymore after you get your hearing aids. This would be a bad idea. We can help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. It’s important to continue with these follow up appointments.
Go slow and maximize your time as you get used to your hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids all of the time. Everyone’s different but the slow and steady approach usually works best. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can assist you with.
Sticking with these tips (and tips like them) can help ensure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep using them because they continue to improve your life.