July 6, 2023
Have you recently taken the leap and invested in new hearing aids? You may have heard from your friends who are already using them how much they help to improve their life by enhanced communication during everyday conversations and helping to be more alert of the world around them. However, this upgrade in life doesn’t happen overnight. Unlike prescription glasses which will correct your vision immediately, hearing aids take time to get used to.
Getting Used to Old Sounds All Over Again
Most people wait on average seven to ten years from the time they suspect they have a hearing loss to finally act around the condition. During this time sound increasingly becomes blocked from reaching the brain. This creates auditory deprivation in the brain over years, meaning that when you first try a new pair of hearing aids they may sound strange. You’ll find that you must get used to all the new sounds and stimuli that your brain has forgotten in recent years. Even the sound of your own voice may sound uncomfortably loud at first. However, with focus and dedication you will find that you’ll be able to enjoy the added connection in communication and awareness of your surroundings you’ve been craving.
Tips for getting used to hearing aids
Here are just a few tips to make sure that you don’t try hearing aids, only to become discouraged and give up. We here are dedicated to helping you improve your life with hearing aids:
Wear them at home first
When you first start wearing your hearing aids, try them somewhere comfortable like your own home. Make sure you have a quiet place to listen so you can really focus on all the new sounds you are hearing all over again. Let the people you live with know that you are trying to get used to new hearing aids and that you’d like to practice one-on-one conversations with them. You may also try talking to your pet or reading aloud to yourself. This will help you normalize new sounds including your own voice and slowly get used to a life with hearing aids.
Give yourself homework
Locating sounds is one of the greatest hurdles when you have hearing loss. An example of sound localization is when you are driving and hear an ambulance siren. You can sense how fast it’s coming and even hear as it leaves. When you have some time, try practicing locating sounds in your home or the world around you when you are out and about.
Take breaks
It can be a lot to wear hearing aids at first. Go easy on yourself by only wearing them a short time in the beginning. Wear them for a few hours and gradually work up over two weeks, to wearing them all day, from the time you wake up till the time you go to sleep.
Attend follow-up visits
We have years of experience finding the right hearing aids for people with diverse hearing needs. However, even so it may take time to find the perfect fit and programming. This means that attending follow up visits is a great time for us to help you fine tune your hearing aid programming and fit so you get the best possible solution for all of your hearing issues. It’s also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about operating, wearing, or cleaning your new hearing aids.
Take good care of your hearing aids
Hearing aids can last anywhere from three to seven years. While this may not seem like that long, it’s important to consider that ideally hearing aids will be working all day and going just about everywhere that you go. Establishing an excellent care plan for your hearing aids from the start is a great way to ensure you’ll get a long life out of them. We can suggest many techniques to help you maintain your hearing aids—a practice which ideally should be added to your nightly hygiene routine along with brushing and flossing your teeth. Wipe away any buildup of wax and dirt and inspect your hearing aids for corrosion, or damage at the end of every day.
Schedule a Hearing Exam Today
If you have been struggling with your hearing and think hearing aids may be right for you, it may be time for an updated hearing exam. To find out more, schedule a hearing exam with us today.