You finally 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 there’s a problem: 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. 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.
But there are several tips you can use to reduce this transition period. 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
Regardless of how technologically sophisticated they might 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 purposely give yourself time to adjust and take it slowly:
- First, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: You might be setting yourself up for disappointment if you wear your hearing aids in a crowded setting on the first day. When the brain has to focus on all those voices, it can get overwhelmed at first. By beginning with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition smoother and also get a little additional practice.
- Wear your hearing aids for a short duration: A few hours at a time is the most you should use your hearing aids when you first start out. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first (this is normal), so it’s okay to start slowly. You can begin to use your hearing aids for longer durations as you become accustomed to them.
- Use your hearing aids only around the house at first: You’ll be less likely to experience noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a greater degree of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This means you can concentrate on one voice at a time.
Get extra 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 enjoyable!
- Do some listening exercise: That’s right: Sit someplace a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Begin by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the print version: This is a really similar exercise (and lets you have some fun reading while you’re at it). Your brain will learn to make associations between sounds and words by using this read along approach.
- Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put your hearing aids in, flip on the television, and watch your favorite show. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the characters talk, and your brain will start remembering what all these words sound like. This sort of practice will help you get used to understanding speech again.
Strengthen your hearing health with these tips
Of course, one of the purposes of hearing aids is to keep your ears as healthy as you can. And there are some tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get used to using your new hearing aid:
- Be certain to take note of and let us know about any pain: Your hearing aids shouldn’t be painful. So it’s important to let us know about any problems with fit or any pain right away.
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to believe that once you’ve got the right hearing aids, you won’t need to see us anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can continue to track your hearing, make certain the fit is comfortable, and make any needed adjustments. It’s essential to continue with these follow up appointments.
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 all of the time. Everyone’s different but the slow and steady strategy usually works best. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
Implementing these tips (and tips like them) can help make sure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep wearing them because they continue to improve your life.