Have you just purchased your first pair of hearing aids? Congrats! Your journey to clear hearing begins here. But if you’ve imagined that your hearing will improve overnight, remember that you’ll need some time to adjust. You’ll need a few days to get used to your new devices, train your brain to hear with hearing aids, and learn how to use all the incredible programs and features available to you.
Learn More About Your Hearing Aids
Modern hearing devices are nothing like the hearing aids you might be imagining from a few years ago. Today’s devices are sleek, sophisticated, mini computers that are capable of incredible things. You’ve purchased a hearing aid that has the programs and features that match your unique hearing needs, and now it’s time to learn more about your hearing aids! You need to find out how to control all these programs, which programs you should use in which situations, and how to get the most out of your devices. If you learn more about your hearing aids, they’ll do all the work, and you can sit back and enjoy clear hearing.
To learn more about your devices, ask as many questions as you need to during initial fittings and follow up appointments. Read the information provided by the manufacturer, and get familiar with all the different settings and how to easily switch between them.
Be Patient with Yourself
Getting confident adjusting the programs and settings of your new devices will take some time. When you first get new devices, switch between programs and settings every time you’re in a new listening environment, and test your knowledge of your hearing aids. Keep working at it until you’re comfortable making these changes, and don’t have to think about what program to use. For example, you’ll need to change programs and settings when going from the quiet of your living room to the listening environment in the car, and then again when you arrive at the grocery store or coffee shop. Be patient, and keep trying until you’re very comfortable with making these adjustments.
Keep Your Hearing Aids In
It can be overwhelming when you first get new hearing devices. The world is full of sounds you haven’t heard in years, and your brain is easily tired out when trying to make sense of all this new information. Don’t get discouraged, but keep your hearing aids in, and practice listening. Start out slow, and use your hearing aids in the quiet of your house, when you’re watching TV or talking to your family. Practice listening to the sound of your own voice, and get used to how it sounds with your new hearing aids.
Next, go for a walk, listen to the children playing in the park, or meet some friends for dinner. Keep your hearing aids in, and give yourself time to get used to them.
Hearing in Background Noise
Even if you don’t have hearing loss, hearing in places with a lot of background noise can be challenging, and following conversations can seem almost impossible. When you first get hearing aids, you might think they won’t help you in background noise, but be patient. As your ears adjust to your new devices, you’ll soon discover that hearing in background noise becomes easier, and some hearing aids actually provide better hearing in background noise than normal hearing! At first, background noise will seem very loud, and all those sounds that seemed muffled become clear. Soon, your brain will relearn how to focus on important speech sounds, and advanced programs in your devices will reduce distracting background sounds and help you focus on the speech sounds you want to hear.
Ear-Tonics
When adjusting to new hearing aids, don’t get discouraged. The process takes a bit of time, and your ears and brain have to learn to hear a whole new world of sound. Take a break when you need to, then pop your devices back in and try again.
At Ear-Tonics, we’re here to help you at each step of the way, from picking the perfect device to ensuring the right fit, answering all your questions, and helping you adjust to your new devices. Visit us today for a consultation.