You finally 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 bad transitions or unclear conversations. But there’s a problem: everything sounds just a little off.
The reason for this is that it will often take a bit of time before you get used to your new hearing aids. Sometimes, this transition can be annoying. After all, there was so much you were excited to do, and that adjustment period just feels so slow.
Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help accelerate the transition process. With some practice, you can quickly get yourself to a space where you’re thinking less about your hearing aids, and paying more attention to what you’re hearing.
Tips that help you start Slowly
Your brain will take a little while to get accustomed to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Use these tips to start slowly and deliberately give your ears time to adapt.:
- Begin by using 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.
- Initially, try to focus on one-on-one conversations: If you use your hearing aids while eating at a crowded restaurant on your first day you get them, you might be disappointed, not because the devices aren’t working. It’s just that it’s tough for your ear and brain to manage focusing on all those different voices. Sticking to one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a bit of extra practice, as well).
- Only use your hearing aids for short periods of time at first: When you’re just starting, you can practice by using your hearing aids for just a few hours at a time. Your hearing aids will most likely feel a little strange in your ears for a while so starting slowly is okay. As your hearing aids become more comfortable, you can wear them for longer durations.
Get additional practice with these tips
As with any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are some activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. Some of these are even enjoyable!
- Turn on closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, flip on the TV, and watch your favorite program. Your brain will begin remembering what certain words sound like as you read along with the voices you’re hearing. This kind of practice will help you get used to understanding speech again.
- Read along with the printed book while you listen to the audiobook.: This is a very similar exercise (and allows you to get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Your brain will learn to make associations between words and sounds by employing this read along strategy.
- Just practice hearing: That’s right: Sit someplace a little quiet and take in the sounds around you. You can practice by focusing on trying to hear the refrigerator running or the cat meowing in another room or the birds singing outside.
Tips to keep your hearing health strong
Keeping your ears as healthy as possible, after all, is one of the principal purposes of hearing aids. But, as you take some time to get used to your new hearing aids, there are some things you can do that your ears will thank you for.:
- If you have any pain, be sure you take note of it and tell us about it.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t hurt. So if you’re experiencing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to report it as soon as you can.
- Keep visiting us: You might not think you need to get hearing evaluations anymore after you get your hearing aids. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help tune your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. It’s important to continue with these follow up visits.
Go slow and increase your time as you get accustomed to your hearing aids
Your goal here will be to work your way up to using your hearing aids full time. Everybody’s unique but the slow and steady approach often works best. Learning the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.
These tips will help you live a more enjoyable and enriched life with your new hearing aids.
