New Hearing Aids? Tips to Help You Adjust
Congratulations on getting your hearing checked and choosing new hearing aids that best fit your hearing needs and lifestyle. The world of sound has opened back up to you, and everything seems new again – so it makes sense that your brain will need some time to get used to it all. Hearing clinics are such a big help to adjust to your new environment.
Hearing aids provide life-changing assistance but don’t work exactly like eyeglasses. Whereas you can put on a pair of eyeglasses and see the world suddenly snap into focus, our hearing ability works differently. Your hearing aids bring out a wide range of sounds that might surprise you – and your brain.
It can take up to four months to get accustomed to your hearing aids and to get the most out of them. You will notice a significant improvement immediately, but patience is essential. If you have questions or concerns about your progress, always contact your hearing professional for help.
Why hearing aids might sound strange when you first wear them
When people lose their hearing, it’s usually because of a condition that worsens over time. So, most people only know they have hearing loss once they go to an audiologist or hearing instrument practitioner.
Even though hearing loss usually happens slowly over time, hearing aids can significantly and immediately affect how well you hear. Even if your hearing cannot be fixed back to 100%, the sudden change in volume and pitch is a big deal. Some of the time, it can feel a bit too much.
In the same way, different people will react differently to hearing aids based on several factors:
- The severity of their hearing loss
- How long they have had a hearing loss
- The exact brand/model of the hearing aid they purchased
- Whether they are used to wearing other devices like headphones
Still, most people who use hearing aids will need only a short time to get used to them.
How to adjust to your new hearing aids
Start in a quiet environment
Oddly enough, a quiet place is the best setting to begin adjusting to your hearing aids. When you insert your aids for the first time, you might notice ambient sounds, the furnace or air conditioning unit, refrigerator, and even birds and outdoor traffic. These sounds can take some time to get reacquainted with, so it is a good idea to try out your aids where you feel comfortable before you take them for a spin around town.
If you find it uncomfortable to hear all these sounds amplified, try wearing your aids for a brief time first. As you wear them for a short time each day, you will become accustomed to the new portfolio of sounds they provide.
Take them out when you’re ready
Once you have become accustomed to wearing your hearing aids in the comfort of your home, take them to the grocery store or another common public place.
When you have small talk with cashiers or people in your community, you will find that voices are clearer and amplified as well as other sounds. Getting used to your aids might take some time, so don’t hesitate to tell others about your process. When they know that you are trying out new hearing aids, they will no doubt be glad to help you through the process.
Go for a test drive
After trying out these other environments, wear your hearing aids while driving. They can be helpful on the road, particularly alerting you to sirens. However, that same benefit of hearing sirens so clearly can also be quite the jolt the first time it happens. Be aware of your surroundings.
Get your settings right
Many of the latest hearing aids come with customizable settings tailored to different sound environments. Use your hearing aid phone app to establish preset settings suited to the places you go the most. Consider setting a profile for use at home, at the office, and while driving. You can use Bluetooth technology to sync with your smartphone, depending on your particular device. Your clinician will guide you through this process. It helps to customize the hearing aids for you and your particular listening environments.
The adjustment process is different for everyone, and you could join the world of better hearing quickly. If it takes a little longer, we can ensure you arrive at a place where you are reaping all the benefits of new hearing aids and the enhancements they provide to your communication and relationships.
If you or a loved one is struggling to get used to new hearing devices, our audiology team here at Expert Hearing Solutions in Thunder Bay will do everything within our power to help.
Please don’t stop wearing your hearing aids, or it will take much longer to adjust to them. Our hearing clinic in Thunder Bay will book your follow-up appointment as soon as possible to review everything with you again and make any necessary adjustments.
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your choice and get the full value of your investment for many years. If you are unsatisfied with your hearing aids for any reason, Expert Hearing Solutions offers a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee.
