Get on the Right Track with your Hearing Aids

Healthy hearing is important for a more fulfilling life. When you have a hard time hearing sounds and discussions that are going on around you, socializing with others can lead to fatigue and feeling overwhelmed.  

Many people who wear hearing aids have expressed that while their hearing isn’t perfect, it’s still significantly better than not wearing them at all. They keep your brain functioning and delay the onset of Alzheimer's or dementia.  

It takes time to get used to hearing with a hearing aid, especially if you delayed your treatment and didn’t start to use hearing aids until much later in life.  

Here are three tips to help you adapt to your hearing aids.

1. Wear your hearing aids for most of your day. You basically need to retrain your brain to hear sounds again, if you waited too long to get hearing aids. Everything from the humming of your refrigerator, or rushing water from a faucet will help you adapt to hearing noises again. Simply go about your life as you usually would, and you will adjust as best as you can. Be aware that it will take some time and patience.

Your ears may also initially feel a little sore when you first wear the devices. It’s similar to breaking in a new pair of shoes. It’s best to wear them from the moment you wake up, to the moment when you are getting ready to wind down from the day. Of course, if you  are taking a shower, or will be going into any body of water, remove your hearing aids and store them in a safe place. 

2. Enjoy having a conversation with people. Talking to others (in-person and over the phone) can feel rewarding for hearing aid users. Again, it won’t be perfect, but it will be much better and easier than it was without any hearing aid. Other people’s speech sounds clearer and more focused than before. Hearing aids have the ability to drown out background noise and use directional microphones to hone in on conversations with a person or people who are near you.    

Just about every modern digital hearing aid features Bluetooth®, so you can experience an easier time with streaming phone calls directly through your hearing aids. 

3. Keep a journal about your new experience with hearing aids. Keeping a hearing journal when you first notice hearing problems can be helpful in letting your hearing aid provider understand your listening needs. The same concept goes with using a new pair of hearing aids. 

You can write down your thoughts and concerns. Make a note of sounds that are either new, or that you are hearing again for the first time in a while.

• Do they sound pleasant or unpleasant?
• Are there any physical sensations that you notice with your hearing aids? 
• What is the comfort level while wearing them? 

This is also a great tool to use when trialing a pair of hearing aids and you need to discuss the concerns you have, or what is working for you, with your hearing instrument 
specialist.

Hearing Aid Usage Reminders

If wearing hearing aids feels overwhelming at some points, it’s okay to take them off and take a break for a little while. Your brain will eventually adjust to your hearing aids and the overwhelming feelings will subside. 

After purchasing your hearing aids, follow-up appointments will be scheduled through your hearing aid provider. During these appointments, you may have adjustments made to your hearing aids, which might include reprogramming, re-fittings, or a change in dome sizes.  

If you or a loved one are experiencing problems with hearing, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation.  

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