Congratulations—you’re ready to join the millions of Americans who have discovered how utilizing hearing aids can make life more enjoyable and rewarding. Shortly, you’ll be hearing sounds you’ve long forgotten, participating in stimulating conversations, and listening to music with greater perceptiveness for each instrument.
But before you can get to all that, you’ll have to undertake a short phase of adjustment to get used to your new hearing aids. Here are five suggestions to help you push through this stage and to help you get the maximum benefit out of your new technology.
1. Visit a Hearing Care Professional
If you want the best hearing possible, there’s no avoiding the initial step, which is visiting a hearing care professional. They can assist you in finding the most suitable hearing aid that corresponds with your hearing loss, lifestyle, and financial position. And, most of all, they can custom-fit and program your new hearing aid so that it’s fine tuned for your distinctive hearing loss.
Your hearing loss, like a fingerprint, is unique. That means every hearing aid should be programmed differently—and this calls for the practical knowledge of a hearing care professional.
2. Give Your Hearing Aids a Chance
Your brand new hearing aids will take some getting used to. You’ll notice sounds you haven’t listened to in some time, your voice may sound different, and sound may all around just seem “off.” This is completely ordinary: you just need time to adapt.
Begin by making a commitment to wear your hearing aids for as much of the day as possible, for at a minimum a few weeks. Put them in when you wake up and take them out before going to bed. Although it may be uncomfortable at first, you’ll adjust to better hearing in no time—and it will be well worth the hard work.
If you find that you’re having problems adjusting, schedule a visit with your hearing care professional. Hearing aids can be fine-tuned, so you never have to throw in the towel on better hearing.
3. Start Small at Home
We suggest adapting to your hearing aids at first in the comfort of your home. Attempt watching a movie or TV show and paying special attention to the dialogue; engage in one-on-one conversations in a quiet space; and listen to music while trying to pick out different instruments and pitches.
Next, when you’re more comfortable, you can try your hearing aids out in more challenging surroundings like at social gatherings, restaurants, and movie theaters. Modern hearing aids come with advanced features and environmental settings that can effortlessly handle these increased listening demands—which segues nicely to the fourth tip.
4. Master the Advanced Features
After you’ve adapted to your hearing aids, you should start to learn a few of the more advanced features. With the help of your hearing specialist, you can learn how to capitalize on the functionality and convenience of your modern hearing aids.
Depending on your particular model, you’ll be able to do things like wirelessly stream music and phone calls directly to your hearing aids, manipulate the volume from your mobile device or digital watch, and effortlessly switch settings to maximize your hearing in different environments. Make sure to consult to your hearing specialist about all the features that might be helpful to you.
5. Take Care Of Your Hearing Aids
Last, you’ll want to ensure that you safeguard your hearing aids. This implies daily cleaning, proper storage, and managing your battery supply. Your hearing professional will help you include hearing aid maintenance and care into your daily routine so that it becomes automatic and effortless.
You’ll also want to get your hearing aids professionally cleaned and assessed once or twice a year to ensure proper performance for years to come.
We’d love to hear from you: if you currently wear hearing aids, tell us about your experiences! Let us know how you adjusted to your hearing aids and any advice you’d give to those just getting started.
