You’ve been waiting for this day for quite a while. You got your new hearing aids. You’re so thrilled to be able to dive into your social life again. No more missed transitions or confused conversations. But your hearing aids just don’t sound quite right.
That’s because it’ll most likely take you a while to adjust to a new set of hearing aids. This can be an annoying transition. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so long.
Luckily, there are some tips that can help accelerate the transition process. 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
Regardless of how technologically sophisticated they may be, it’s going to take your brain a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again. Here are some 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 might be discouraged, not because the devices are doing anything wrong. When the brain needs to pay attention to all those voices, it can become overloaded at first. By starting out with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition easier and also get a bit of extra practice.
- Start by wearing 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 significantly less noise pollution. This means you can focus on one voice at a time.
- Use your hearing aids for a short period of time: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first start out. They may 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 become more comfortable, you can use them for longer periods of time.
Get added practice with these tips
Much like any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are a few activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. Some of these are even fun!
- Just practice hearing: That’s right: sit in a quiet place and let your ears do the hearing. Start out by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the print version: This is a really similar exercise (and allows you to get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Your brain will learn to make connections between sounds and words by employing this read along strategy.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, flip on the television, and watch your favorite program. Your brain will start to remember what certain words sound like when you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This kind of practice will help you adjust to understanding speech again.
Improve your hearing health with these tips
Keeping your ears as healthy as possible, after all, is one of the primary purposes of hearing aids. But, as you take some time to get used to your new hearing aids, there are a few things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- If you have any pain, make sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Because it shouldn’t hurt to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any problems with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: You may not think you need to get hearing evaluations 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 keep an eye on your hearing. These follow up appointments are really important.
Go slow and maximize your time as you get accustomed to your hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time. Everyone’s different but the slow and steady strategy often works best. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can assist you with.
Following 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 enrich your life.