You finally obtained those new hearing aids. You’re so excited to be able to jump into your social life again. Now, you won’t be missing elements of conversations or going through awkward transitions. But there’s an issue: everything sounds a little bit off.
That’s because it’ll most likely take you some time to adjust to a new pair of hearing aids. Sometimes, this transition can be frustrating. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so long.
Luckily, there are a few tips that can help quicken the transition process. With a little practice, you can quickly get yourself to a space where you’re paying less attention to 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 no matter how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are some ways you can purposely give yourself time to adjust and take it slowly:
- Wear your hearing aids only around the house initially: 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 concentrate on one voice at a time.
- At first, try to pay attention to one-on-one conversations: You may be setting yourself up for frustration if you wear your hearing aids in a noisy environment on the first day. When the brain has to focus on all those voices, it can get overloaded at first. Staying with one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a little extra practice, as well).
- Only wear your hearing aids for short periods of time at first: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first get started. They may feel a little funny at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start slowly. As your hearing aids get more comfortable, you can wear them for longer durations.
Tips that help you get extra practice in
Similar to 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 may even have some fun!
- Simply practice hearing: That’s right: Sit somewhere a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Start off by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
- Turn on closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: Turn the TV on, put your hearing aids in, and enjoy. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like as you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This can give you some practice hearing and getting used to speech.
- Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This comparable exercise can also be really enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make associations between words and sounds by employing this read along strategy.
Improve your hearing health with these tips
Obviously, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your ears as healthy as you can. But, as you take some time to get used 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 if you’re noticing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to let us know as soon as you can.
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to presume that once you’ve got the right hearing aids, you won’t need to have anymore hearing exams. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help adjust 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
Your goal here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time. A slow and steadfast approach works quite often, but everybody’s unique. You’ll want to get personalized guidance from us on the best way for you to get accustomed to your new hearing aid.
Following these tips (and tips like them) can help make sure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep using them because they continue to enhance your life.