You’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. You got your new hearing aids. You’re finally going to be able to get back into the groove of your social life again. No more missed transitions or unclear conversations. But there’s an issue: everything sounds a little bit off.
That’s because it’ll likely take you a while to adjust to a new set of hearing aids. This can be a frustrating transition. After all, there was so much you were looking forward to, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
But there are a few tips you can practice to minimize this transition period. With some practice, you can quickly get yourself to a place where you’re thinking less about your hearing aids, and tuning in to what you’re hearing.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little while to get used to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Use these tips to proceed slowly and purposely give your ears time to adjust.:
- Start by wearing your hearing aids at home only: 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 will help you concentrate on individual voices.
- Only wear your hearing aids for short periods of time at first: When you’re just starting, you can practice by using your hearing aids for only a few hours at a time. Your hearing aids will most likely feel a little strange in your ears for a while so starting gradually is okay. You can start to use your hearing aids for longer periods as you get used to them.
- First, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: If you wear your hearing aids while dining at a crowded restaurant on your first day using the devices, you could be discouraged, not because the devices are doing anything wrong. It’s just that it’s difficult for your ear and brain to deal with focusing on all those different voices. By starting out with one-on-one conversations you will make the transition easier and also get a little extra practice.
Tips that help you get added practice in
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. You could even have some fun!
- Listen to an audiobook while you read the printed book: This similar exercise can also be very enjoyable. Your brain will learn to make associations between sounds and words by using this read along technique.
- Do some listening exercise: That’s right: Go someplace a little quiet and experience the sounds around you. Begin by focusing on the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds chirping or nearby running water.
- Watch TV with the closed-captions on: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, turn on the TV, and watch your favorite show. 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 adjusting to speech.
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. And there are some tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get accustomed to using your new hearing aid:
- Keep visiting us: There might be a temptation to presume that once you’ve got the right hearing aids, you won’t need to see us anymore. This would be a bad idea. We can help make adjustments to your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to check in on your hearing. It’s important to continue with these follow up appointments.
- If you have any pain, be sure you take note of it and report it to us.: Because it shouldn’t hurt to wear hearing aids. So it’s important to report any problems with fit or any pain right away.
Go slow and maximize your time as you get used to your hearing aids
Your objective here will be to work your way up to using your hearing aids all of the time. A slow and steadfast approach is often effective, but everyone’s unique. Understanding the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
Sticking with 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.