7 tips for getting used to your new hearing aids

Many people are surprised to learn that it can take awhile to get used to hearing aids, especially if you’ve never worn them before. Along with learning how they work, you’re also grappling with all the new sounds and stimuli that your brain has forgotten about in recent years. Your hearing care professional will be an important partner as you learn to use your hearing aids, and you should not hesitate to reach out to them between appointments if you have any questions.

The biggest change may be your own voice

It is important to remember that hearing aids will not exactly replicate how you used to hear before you had hearing loss. For some people, the biggest change is the sound of their own voice. You’ll find that at first, you voice sounds funny or unfamiliar, and also may sound louder than you’d like. Chewing and swallowing may be especially noticeable. These sensations, which are annoying at first, will dissipate the more you wear your hearing aids.

Tips for getting used to hearing aids

1. Wear them at home first

Start by wearing your hearing aids at home or in other quiet listening environments. Focus on having one-on-one conversations. Let your friends and family know you’re using your new hearing aids so they can help you stay committed to better hearing as you wear your aids in more challenging environments. Reading aloud or talking to your pet can also help you get used to your own voice, too.

2. Give yourself homework

For extra practice with your hearing aids, try to locate the sources of all the sounds in your environment, or listen to audio books or talk radio while you’re home alone.

3. Take breaks

Wear them a few hours the first day, then a few more hours every day after that. Gradually increase the number of hours you wear them per day, and the situations in which you wear them.

4. Attend follow-up visits

You’ll want to see your hearing care professional for as many follow-up visits as you need to fine-tune the sounds you’re hearing, adjust the fit in your ear and talk about the situations that are most challenging for you.

5. Attend hearing aid care classes

If your hearing care professional offers orientation classes for new hearing aid wearers, be sure to sign up. These classes are very helpful and lead to greater satisfaction with hearing aid use.

6. Anticipate some frustration, especially with background noise

If you haven’t heard well in a few years, hearing aids flood your ears with sounds you didn’t notice before, and it can be a bit of sound overload. For example, the humming of the refrigerator—a background noise that most people seldom notice—might seem very loud or unbearable. This is because your brain has forgotten how to sort out background noise and to prioritize certain sounds over others. People adjusting to a new hearing aid have to relearn how to ignore background noise, and it’s important for them to be patient and take it slow as their brains adjust.

7. Report any pain

Depending on your hearing needs, you may have custom-fitted ear molds, which means they should fit comfortably within your ears. Audiologists note that hearing aids can cause slight tenderness at first, but that if they cause any amount of pain, you should return to the audiologist immediately to fix the problem. Often times, receiver-in-the-ear styles with domes are easier to adjust to because they don’t cause a “plugged up” feeling in the ears like ear molds can, and they’re gentle on the ear canals.

A whole new world

After a few weeks, chirping birds and raindrops on the roof will be pleasant, rather than startling. You’ll find that you’re wearing your hearing aids for longer and longer stretches. The sound of your own voice will sound less annoying, and you’ll learn to tune out the sounds you don’t need to hear, like the fridge or the ceiling fan.All the new stimulation is good for your brain, lowering the risk of cognitive decline, social isolation, depression and other negative impacts of untreated hearing problems. If you feel you are not hearing as good as you used to, call Schmidt’s Optical and Hearing™today at 772-286-4327 to schedule a free hearing evaluation with our Board Certified Hearing Aid Specialist.
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