Are You Struggling to Adjust to Your New Hearing Aids? Here are 7 Tips.

Most new hearing aid users are unprepared for the amount of time it will take to get used to their hearing aids. In addition to learning how they work, you will probably be overwhelmed by noises that you haven’t heard for a long time. Your brain needs time to adjust. Your hearing instrument specialist will be an integral part of this process, so don’t hesitate to contact them in between appointments if you have questions or concerns. 

Your Own Voice may Sound Different

Hearing aids are not going to restore your hearing back to normal. Your voice is going to sound different when you hear it while wearing your hearing aids. 

Initially, your voice will sound strange. Some have described that it’s similar to an echo sound or like you’re in a barrel. It may sound louder than usual. The noises you make from chewing and swallowing may also be more prominent. They’ll be irritating, but eventually, you’ll acclimate to the sounds and won’t notice them as much as long as you wear your hearing aids from the moment you wake up to the moment when you go to bed. Obviously, you should not wear them if you are going to take a shower or go into any body of water. If you are still noticing these noises, contact our hearing instrument specialists at Pure Sound for help. 

How to Adjust to Your Hearing Aids

1. Wear Your Hearing Aids in Your Home

Begin wearing the devices around your house or in other quiet places. Have one-on-one conversations. Inform family, friends, and colleagues about your hearing aids so they can support you and help keep you on track as you work towards healthier hearing. Practice listening while wearing them by reading out loud or talking to someone. This will help you adjust to your own voice. 

2.  Practice Wearing Your Hearing Aids

To help you get used to the devices, try to find out where different sounds in your environment are coming from. Have a conversation with a loved one. When you are alone, listen to an audiobook or a podcast. 

3. Take Breaks from Your Hearing Aids

They should be worn for a few hours during the first day of using them, then gradually add a few more hours each day onwards. After you’ve adjusted to them, they should be worn all day, from the moment when you wake up to the moment when you get ready to sleep. 

4. Schedule Follow-up Appointments
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You should visit your hearing instrument specialist whenever necessary so they can make adjustments as needed. This could include changes to the programs on the hearing aids, or the way they fit in your ears. Discuss any problems that you are having with the devices with your provider. Most people schedule an appointment with their hearing instrument specialist about two weeks after their first fitting to get the hearing aids tuned or fix the volume.      

5. Attend a Hearing aid Demo Event

In addition to one-on-one appointments with our hearing instruments specialists, Pure Sound occasionally offers demo events for new hearing aid users. They are very helpful demonstrations that can make transitioning into a hearing aid user easier, and so you can get the most out of your hearing aids. 

6. Be aware that Adapting to Hearing Aids Takes Time

There will be moments of frustration or feeling overwhelmed by noises that you haven’t heard in a while. The sound of a refrigerator or any other background noise that most people don’t notice may suddenly seem distracting. This is due to the fact that your brain forgot the process of blocking out background noises and prioritizes some sounds more than the less important sounds. Adapting to new hearing aids requires relearning how to block out background noise. As you get used to the hearing aids, programs within the devices can be set up to block out the background noise. Just ask your hearing instrument specialist for this adjustment. 

7. If You feel Pain while Wearing Hearing Aids Notify Your Provider 

Based on your personal hearing requirements, you might wear hearing aids with customized earmolds. This means they should rest snugly against your ears. When you first put them on, the devices may slightly hurt your ears. If it’s very painful, inform your provider and schedule an appointment immediately so that they may correct the problem. Generally, hearing aids that have the receiver-in-ear with domes are easier to become accustomed to because they don’t make your ear canals feel plugged the way earmolds can. They also don’t hurt the ear canals.   

If you or a loved one are noticing hearing loss and may need hearing aids, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.      

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