Getting Used To Your New Pair Of Hearing Aids
Protecting your hearing health is a vital part of maintaining your overall well-being. To that end, if you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, then you might be recommended some hearing aids. They are the most common and effective treatment for most levels of hearing loss, but people find that it can take some time to get used to them. That’s to be expected, as wearing a pair of devices in your ear can be a new sensation for anyone. However, getting used to them can be a little easier when you know what’s coming and how to get the best out of them.
Learn How To Operate Them
Some people may not be comfortable with operating finely-tuned technology, or might have manual dexterity issues that can make it difficult. If that’s the case, leaving it up to your hearing health provider is just fine. Otherwise, however, you can become a lot more comfortable with yoru hearing aids if you’re able to program and adjust them properly, so that you can suit them to when you’re in quiet settings, noisy places, listening to music, or otherwise. Work with your hearing health specialist to learn about how to fine-tune volume, as well as any directional microphone or noise reduction features the device offers. You may not have to adjust it too often, but being able to fine-tune it can help you find your comfort zones wherever you are.
Acclimating To Wearing Them
Although there’s typically no discomfort when wearing hearing aids, the sensation of having devices in your ear for extended periods of time can take a little getting used to. However, what people need a little time to acclimate to is the difference in their hearing. The improvements are immediate and can be truly profound, but they can also be a little overwhelming at first. Sounds can be louder and a little sharper, and you might find background noise that you weren’t able to hear before is now distracting. Typically, you’ll be encouraged to wear them for a few hours a day, to begin with, gradually increasing your exposure over time, until you’re able to wear them all day.
Try Wearing Them in Different Environments
Just as it can take some time to get used to how everything sounds when first wearing your hearing aids, the same can be true when you take them out to a different environment for the first time. As such, it’s worth practising taking the theme out into real-world settings so that you can better acclimate. If you never go to restaurants or concerts and don’t want to, then you don’t have to force yourself to get used to these environments, but if you don’t want to spend time in more complex and varied settings, your brain can better adapt to them with practice, and you can learn which settings help you hear the best in them.
Learning To Care For Them
If you want to ensure that your hearing aids are performing to their best ability, then you need to clean them every day. This prevents wax buildup, stops dust from blocking components, and reduces the chance of muffled sound or technical issues. There are hearing aid cleaning kits specifically designed for your device, and you should use them, avoiding using any water or chemicals that can potentially damage the device. Typically, all you need to do is wipe them down with a dry cloth, check the microphone ports, and make sure that the tubing and domes are clear, as well. Cleaning it every night helps preserve its lifespan so it can improve your hearing for as long as possible.
Be Mindful Of Moisture
If you aim to keep your hearing aids working as effectively as possible, then you need to be keenly aware of moisture. It’s one of the most common causes of malfunctions, so you should do what you can to prevent it from coming in contact with water, including sweat, the rain, and humidity in general. Keeping hearing aids dry is about prevention, more than anything. If you’re going out in the rain, keep your ears covered. Don’t wear them when you’re in the bathroom, especially if the bath or shower is running. When not wearing them, store them in a hearing aid dehumidifier that can help them dry out over time. If you do live an active lifestyle, and sweat is unavoidable, then you might want to choose a waterproof or moisture-resistant pair.
Know The Signs Of Trouble To Look Out For
Though the tips above can help you avoid a lot of issues with your hearing aids, they are still relatively delicate pieces of hardware, so malfunctions are always a possibility. If the sounds are too distorted, too soft, or too sharp, try to make a note of when it happens and in what kind of listening environment. You should also keep an ear out for feedback issues (such as whistling), which can indicate that the device needs a little adjustment or a part replacement. Don’t feel awkward about bringing up any issues with your hearing health provider, even if they feel relatively minor. Their aim is to help you get the best possible listening experience you can from your hearing aids.
Stay In Touch With Your Hearing Health Provider
It’s best to choose your hearing aids with the help of a hearing health provider, as they can match your needs with their knowledge of the market. They can also help fit them for the first time, teach you about their features, and ensure that you’re given all the information you need on using them. They can be even more helpful in follow-up meetings, correcting any discomfort, adjusting the programming, and troubleshooting any issues you experience with them. Stay connected with your hearing health provider so that you can feel more supported every step of the way.
Having some expectation of what wearing your hearing aids is going to be like, and how to adjust to them all the better, can greatly improve your experience with them.
