How to Adjust to New Hearing Aids


Group of women practicing using their new hearing aids during lunch.

People normally don’t like change. Taking this into consideration, there can be a double edged sword with hearing aids: your life will undergo an enormous change but they also will allow exciting new opportunities. That amount of change can be a challenge, particularly if you’re somebody that has come to embrace the placid comfort of your daily routine. There are very specific hurdles with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is largely about knowing how to adjust to these devices.

Here Are Some Quick Suggestion to Adjust to Your New Hearing Aids

Your hearing will be dramatically improved whether you are getting your first hearing aids or upgrading to a more powerful design. Dependant on your personal circumstances, that might be a big adjustment. Following these guidelines might make your transition a little more comfortable.

When You First Get Your Hearing Aids Only Use Them Intermittently

As a general rule, the more you wear your hearing aids, the healthier your ears will stay. But if you’re breaking in your very first pair, using your hearing aids for 18 hours a day can be quite uncomfortable. You might begin by trying to use your hearing aids for 8 hours at a time, and then steadily build up your endurance.

Practice Listening to Conversations

When you first begin wearing your hearing aids, your brain will likely need some time to get accustomed to the concept that it’s able to hear sounds again. You could have a tough time making out speech clearly or following conversations during this adjustment period. But practicing using reading or listening exercises (such as reading along to an audiobook) can help the language-hearing-and-interpreting portion of your brain wake back up.

Have Your Hearing Aids Fitted

One of the initial things you’ll do – even before you receive your final hearing aids – is go through a fitting process. Improving comfort, taking account of the size and shape of your ear canal, and adjusting for your individual hearing loss are all things that a fitting helps with. Several adjustments may be required. It’s essential to come see us for follow-up appointments and to take these fittings seriously. Your hearing aids will sound better and will sit more comfortably if they fit properly. Adjustments to different environments can also be done by us.

Troubleshoot

Sometimes when you first buy your hearing aid something isn’t working properly and it becomes difficult to adjust to it. If there’s too much feedback that can be painful. Or the hearing aid keeps falling out (which can be frustrating). It can be hard to adjust to hearing aids because of these kinds of problems, so it’s a good idea to find solutions as early as you can. Try these guidelines:

  • If you notice a lot of feedback, make sure that your hearing aids are correctly seated in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a little off) and that there are no blockages (such as excess earwax).
  • Charge your hearing aids every evening or exchange the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to diminish, they normally don’t perform as effectively as they’re meant to.
  • talk about any buzzing or ringing with your hearing professional. At times, your cell phone will cause interference with your hearing aid. In other instances, it may be that we need to make some adjustments.
  • Ask your hearing expert to be sure that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your hearing loss.

Adjusting to Your New Hearing Aids Has Its Rewards

Just as it would with a new pair of glasses, it might take you a little bit of time to adapt to your new hearing aids. We hope you will have a smoother and quicker transition with these recommendations. But you will be surprised how simple it will become if you stay with it and get into a routine. But before too long you will be able to place your attention on what your hearing: like your favorite shows or music or the daily conversations you’ve missed. Ultimately all these adjustments are well worth it. And change is good.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.