Man wearing purple shirt sitting at a table with his new hearing aids examining them and smiling.

You’ve been waiting for this day for quite a while. You got your new hearing aids. You’re finally going to be able to get back into the swing of your social life again. No more bad transitions or confused conversations. But there’s a problem: everything sounds just a little off.

That’s because it’ll most likely take you some time to adjust to a new pair of hearing aids. Often, this transition can be frustrating. You were so looking forward to enjoying your hearing again and it feels like it’s hard to be patient.

Luckily, there are a few tips that can help accelerate the transition process. With a little practice, you can quickly get yourself to a space where you’re thinking less about your hearing aids, and paying more attention to what you’re hearing.

Tips that help you start Slowly

Your brain will take a little time to get used to hearing certain sounds again regardless of how sophisticated your hearing aids are. Here are a few ways you can intentionally give yourself time to adjust and start things off slowly:

  • Wear your hearing aids for a short duration: A few hours at a time is the most you should wear your hearing aids when you first get started. They may feel a little funny at first (this is normal), so it’s good to start a little bit at a time. You can start to wear your hearing aids for longer durations as you get used to them.
  • First, try to pay attention to one-on-one conversations: You could be setting yourself up for disappointment if you wear your hearing aids in a crowded setting on the first day. When the brain needs to focus on all those voices, it can become overloaded at first. Sticking to one-on-one conversations can help make that transition smoother (and give you a little extra practice, too).
  • Use your hearing aids only around the house initially: You’ll be less likely to encounter noise pollution at home and you will be able to have a greater amount of control over the sounds you’re hearing. This will help you focus on individual voices.

Tips that help you get added practice in

Similar to any other skill (and hearing is a skill, among other things), there are a few activities that can help you practice with your hearing aids. You could even have some fun!

  • Read along with the printed version while you listen to the audiobook.: This is a very similar exercise (and allows you to get in some fun reading while you’re at it). Reading and listening to an audiobook simultaneously will help your brain make links between sounds and words.
  • Simply practice hearing: That’s right: sit in a quiet place and let your ears do the hearing. Start off by tuning in to the sound of wind blowing through the trees or birds singing or nearby running water.
  • Use closed-captions when you watch TV: It’s easy: put in your hearing aids, turn on the TV, and watch your favorite show. As you read the dialog you’ll also be hearing the characters speak, and your brain will start remembering what all these words sound like. This kind of practice will help you adjust to understanding speech again.

Improve your hearing health with these tips

Keeping your ears as healthy as possible, after all, is one of the principal purposes of hearing aids. And there are a few tips you can do to keep your ears happy as you get used to wearing your new hearing aid:

  • Keep visiting us: You may not think you need to get hearing exams anymore after you get your hearing aids. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can help tune your hearing aids, keep the fit comfortable, and continue to keep an eye on your hearing. It’s important to continue with these follow up appointments.
  • If you’re experiencing any pain, make sure you document it and report it to us.: Your hearing aids shouldn’t hurt. So if you’re experiencing any pain or something’s not fitting right, it’s important to report it as soon as possible.

Take your time, and build up to full-time hearing aids

Working your way up to wearing your hearing aids full time is the objective here. A slow and progressive strategy works quite often, but everybody’s unique. Learning the best ways to get comfortable with your new hearing aids is something we can help you with.

Following these tips (and tips like them) can help ensure that you enjoy having your hearing aids and that you keep using them because they continue to enrich your life.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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