If you’ve recently been fitted with a hearing aid, then this blog is for you. Read on for 8 hearing aid tips to adjust and learn to live with a hearing aid
Is it your first time to use a hearing aid? Are you excited to listen and hear better with your hearing aid?
Hearing loss is not an easy thing to get or have. You might find that you have to learn how to listen to music or participate in discussions differently. For many geriatric citizens, hearing loss doesn’t only disable them, but it also isolates them.
If you want to know what you can do to get used to your hearing aid fast, here are some hearing aid tips to help you.
1. Getting Used to a New Pair Takes Time
New hearing aids are like a new pair of shoes. They aren’t going to be comfortable to wear for long hours at first. It’s natural to take the time to get used to a new pair of hearing aids.
These first few moments are the time to figure out what’s normal and what isn’t. For example, you may hear whistling or feedback, or your hearing aid isn’t comfortable to wear. This means your hearing aid fitting may not be correct or there are other issues present.
It’s best to talk to your audiologist or specialist right away.
2. Learn Some Listening Exercises
Wearing hearing aids won’t help things go back to “normal” right away. As we mentioned, there’s an adjustment period you need to go through first. One of the best things you can do while you’re still trying to get used to this new normal is listening exercises.
Find a place that isn’t too noisy or too quiet. A perfect place to go to is the park on a Sunday or the beach.
Find a spot in the open where you won’t be bothered. Now, make yourself comfortable, close your eyes, and “open” your ears. Do your best to identify which direction certain sounds are coming from.
Try to discern different types of sounds or speech patterns. These listening exercises can be quite meditative. Don’t forget to tune back into the world after a few moments.
3. Read Aloud
The rehabilitative hearing process is more effective if used more than your hearing aids only. Try to read aloud as often as you can while you’re still getting used to a new hearing aid. If you’re not used to hearing your voice, reading aloud often can do the trick.
You can also regulate the volume of your voice better when you hear it often. You’ll get better at recognizing your words and speech again. You won’t hear people telling you to stop shouting anymore.
4. Read and Listen
Speaking of reading, do you like to read books often or do you prefer TV series or movies from Netflix? Whenever you’re consuming media, try to make it an audiovisual experience. For example, enable the captions or subtitles whenever you’re watching a movie or TV series.
When you’re reading a book, listen to an audiobook or audio recording at the same time. It’ll help your brain reconnect sounds and language.
5. Avoid Adjusting the Volume Often
Out of all the other hearing aid tips in this guide, we want you to remember this one often.
Don’t make it a habit to go straight to the volume correction. Hearing aids aren’t like the radio or television. They’re more complex pieces of tech that have a smart adjustment process.
If it’s your first time using a hearing aid, you need to get used to the noise or lack thereof in the world. Don’t turn down the volume when you step into the main streets. Don’t turn it up when you step into quiet places like a library.
Let your ears get used to the constant change of environmental sounds. Otherwise, you interfere with the adjustment process of the hearing aid. You may also further damage your hearing.
6. Know the Things That Bother You
Do you find it difficult to go to loud and crowded places? Do ticking clocks irritate you because they sound too loud?
Take note of these little irritants. If you can, make a list or write them in a journal. Do you dislike receiving or making phone calls because of feedback?
When you see your audiologist again, show them this list. They can help to tweak your hearing aid adjustment so it works better for you. After some time, you’ll find that the list of bothersome noises will get shorter.
7. Schedule Follow-Up Visits
A lot of hearing aid users still find it difficult to use or operate a hearing aid. In fact, 25% of financially-struggling hearing aid users report having trouble with hearing aids. As for affluent hearing aid users, the number of users who have trouble with their hearing aids goes down to 10%.
Today, it’s cheaper to get a hearing aid. We’re also seeing an improvement in over-the-counter accessibility. Yet, this doesn’t mean more people receive hearing care services, too.
Make it a habit to go back to your audiologist now and then. Talk to them about any difficulties you’re having with your hearing aid. This way, they can recommend aural rehab sessions or classes.
8. Be Proactive, Talk to People More
Active listening is one of the requirements of conversing. This includes facing and looking at a speaker when they’re talking. When you meet new people, you can explain to them that you’re still adjusting to the hearing aid.
This is your chance to help your brain reconnect sounds, vocal patterns, and nonverbal body language. Have conversations with people you’re familiar with. Spark more conversations with your friends or family.
If you want to learn how to read lips, you can use this time to practice and develop that skill as well. Make sure there aren’t any other noises in the background that may irritate you. Also, it’s better to talk in groups so you learn to distinguish voices faster.
Take Advantage of These Hearing Aid Tips Now!
As a final tip, be patient with the acclimatization process. It takes time to get used to hearing sounds clearer again. It’ll also take willpower and some effort from you to get used to your new normal.
That’s our list of 8 top hearing aid tips for all new hearing aid users. If you enjoyed this list, don’t forget to check out our other content. We’ve got more tips and guides on topics about health.