Getting Used to Your First Hearing Aid
If you suffer from declining hearing and have decided to wear a hearing aid, then you may be in for a surprise. When you wear a hearing aid for the first time, the experience is not like putting on a new pair of glasses, when you see better from the start. When it comes to a hearing aid, you may not experience perfect hearing right away, and you may end up thinking that your hearing aid is not working.
In order to have good hearing with a hearing aid, you must take certain steps so that you and the device are perfectly in sync. Here are some tips on how to acclimate to your hearing aid if you are a first-time user.
Get to Know Your Hearing Aid
When you first get your hearing aid, your audiologist should show you all of its different parts and features. Practice inserting and removing the device several times while you are at the doctor’s office. You should also be familiar with how to clean and maintain your hearing aid to keep it working perfectly.
Start Gradually
Don't immediately go out into noisy or busy environments while wearing your new hearing aid. Try out the device at home in a quieter environment. Your brain needs to adjust to all the new stimuli, and the different noises of a busy environment will sound strange and even irritating. Your brain has gotten used to your hearing loss and will have to re-learn how to ignore the everyday sounds that most people don't notice.
Talk to Yourself
You may notice that your voice sounds strange or exceptionally loud when you first insert your hearing aid. In order to retrain your brain to adjust and ignore the sound of your own voice, practice talking to yourself and listening to your own voice. One really easy way to adjust to your voice is by reading aloud. You could also try singing along with your favorite songs.
Listen and Read at the Same Time
If you've had hearing loss for a long time, it may take time for your brain to connect sounds with human speech. One way to adjust is by reading and listening to words at the same time. Many audiobooks are available that match word for word with their written books, or you can have someone read while you follow along. You can also watch television with closed captioning and read and listen at the same time.
Refrain From Self-Adjusting
If you feel that your hearing aid is annoying you or is not working properly, resist the urge to play with the volume and controls. Your audiologist has calibrated your hearing aid to your needs, and you haven't gotten used to it yet. When you change the settings or volume, you could not only make it harder to adjust but also make your hearing aid work worse.
Check With Your Audiologist
You should see your audiologist frequently, especially during the adjustment period, so that your hearing aids can be checked and adjusted. Mention any complaints about buzzing or whistling noises as well as any fitting discomfort. During these visits, your device will be reprogrammed, if necessary, and cleaned. Your hearing may also be rechecked if you are having difficulty with further hearing loss and report that you don't seem to hear very well.
The time it takes to adjust to a hearing aid is different between individuals. If you don't practice with and have them adjusted when needed, then the acclimation period will take longer. It's important that you start out with the best hearing aid possible to get the best results.
Accurate Hearing Technology has several types of hearing aids available to fit your hearing needs. Contact us, and our experts will work with you before, during, and after the adjustment period to keep you hearing at its best.
