Hearing aids are a common way to improve hearing loss and quality of life. Getting used to wearing hearing aids takes time, which makes transitioning more challenging. Volume control, battery life, headaches, and earwax buildup are challenges new hearing aid users may face.
You may also struggle to understand how the hearing aids function, the stimuli, and the new sounds your brain is experiencing. This article outlines seven tips for new hearing aid wearers face.
1. Consider customizing your hearing aid settings
Most of today’s aids have automatic settings that change depending on your environment. Nonetheless, the pre-set programs may not work as needed in all situations, necessitating custom settings. The pre-set programs are usually set by an audiologist, depending on your hearing test results.
Since your hearing loss may be up to specific frequency ranges, your audiologist fine-tunes the pre-set programs to amplify the sounds you have problems hearing.
If you find yourself in environments needing hearing enhancement, you can talk to your audiologist regarding custom programs. You can ask for feedback suppression to minimize whistling reverb, wind sound suppression to prevent the wind’s whipping noise, and more.
You can make some changes on your own, including manually switching between programs and adjusting the volume. Consider talking to hearing experts such as Hearcanada before making any adjustments.
2. Clean your hearing aids daily
Daily cleaning is vital to hearing aid maintenance due to earwax buildup and other residues. Since most hearing aids have tubes that enter the ear canal or sit in the ear, it’s natural for earwax to increase and suppress the sound transmitted into the ear.
This minimizes hearing aid benefits and effectiveness, which should compensate for your hearing loss. Clean the hearing aids daily to prevent this issue.
With a gentle cloth, wipe down your listening device to remove debris. For hearing aids with a dome, remove and clean the inside using a brush. Once you’re done cleaning your hearing device, dry them meticulously before putting the parts back again. Any moisture trapped in the hearing aid’s interior might malfunction and reduce its lifespan.
3. Learn when to change hearing aid batteries
If your hearing aids aren’t functioning optimally, it doesn’t mean they’re damaged. The batteries might have run out and need replacing. Practice changing your listening device batteries for undisturbed hearing. Every hearing aid type needs a particular battery size that you can easily remember by color.
If it’s your first time changing the batteries, look in the hearing aid to determine the battery type you need.
If your hearing aids begin functioning at reduced power or start beeping, it’s a sign you should get fresh batteries. Ignoring these signs may result in ineffective hearing and communication. Also, leaving old, expired batteries in your hearing aids may cause corrosion.
Alternatively, find rechargeable, wireless hearing devices because they don’t need frequent battery changes.
4. Plan for hearing annual hearing device maintenance
Hearing aids need a tune-up at least once yearly. During the annual maintenance, the hearing aids are checked and reprogrammed to resonate with your changing listening requirements if necessary. Compensating for hearing loss progression or declining hearing is essential to ensure you can cope well in social and occupational environments.
Consider booking hearing aids tune-up every six months for better results. Your audiologist can monitor your hearing changes and change the device settings accordingly, preventing ineffective listening and communication ineffectiveness.
5. Take time to get used to your hearing aids
Getting accustomed to wearing hearing aids takes time, so don’t worry if it seems complicated in the beginning. The brain requires time to adapt and remember how hearing again feels while identifying and interpreting different sounds. These sounds may seem odd at first, and you might need a few days before feeling comfortable.
Consider sitting in a quiet place at home the first time you wear your hearing aids and listen to get used to your new home sound quality.
You might hear noises you never noticed before and may even seem louder, including your air conditioning humming and the clock ticking. Once you get used to them, they won’t seem as loud because your brain will get accustomed to them and become a part of your normal background noise.
6. Take breaks
When wearing hearing aids for the first time, start slowly by wearing them for a few hours on the first day and extra hours daily after that. Slowly raise the time you use them a day and the circumstances in which you use them.
7. Make follow-up appointments
Your audiologist might ask you to return for follow-up appointments to make the most of your hearing aids by adjusting them to your lifestyle and hearing. It’s also an excellent chance to talk about any concerns or questions you might have.
A friend or family member can go along with you to give valuable details concerning your hearing as noticed from their perspective.
Endnote
While hearing aids are an excellent way to boost your listening and communication, transitioning to using them daily can be challenging for new users. Consider using these tips if you’re a new wearer.
