Illini Hearing - Champaign and Mahomet, IL


Group of women practicing using their new hearing aids during lunch.

As a general rule, most people don’t like change. Taking this into account, there can be a double edged sword with hearing aids: they create an exciting new world of sounds for you, but they also represent a considerable transformation of your life. If your someone who likes a very rigid routine, the change can be hard. There are very specific challenges with new hearing aids. But making this change positive is mostly about knowing how to adjust to these devices.

Guidelines to Help You Adjust More Quickly to Your Hearing Aids

Whether it’s your first set of hearing aids (congrats!) or an upgrade to a more robust set, any new hearing aid will be a considerable improvement in how you hear. That could be quite a challenge depending on your situation. Utilizing these guidelines might make your transition a little more comfortable.

When You First Get Your Hearing Aids Only Wear Them Intermittently

As a basic rule, the more you wear your hearing aids, the healthier your ears will be. But it can be a little uncomfortable when you’re breaking them in if you use them for 18 hours a day. You may try to build up your stamina by beginning with 8 hours and building up from there.

Practice Listening to Conversations

When you first begin using your hearing aids, your brain will likely need some time to get accustomed to the idea that it’s able to hear sounds again. You might have a difficult time hearing speech clearly or following conversations during this adjustment time. But practicing with listening or reading drills (like reading along to an audiobook) can help the language-hearing-and-interpreting portion of your brain wake back up.

Get a Fitting For Your Hearing Aids

Even before you get your final hearing aids, one of the first things you will have to do – is go through a fitting process. The fitting procedure helps adjust the device to your individual loss of hearing, differences in the shape of your ear canal, and help enhance comfort. More than one adjustment may be needed. It’s important to come see us for follow-up appointments and to take these fittings seriously. When your hearing aids fit well, your devices will sit more comfortably and sound better. Adjustments to various conditions can also be done by us.

Troubleshoot

Sometimes when you first get your hearing aid something may not be working right and it becomes difficult to adapt to it. Maybe you hear too much feedback (which can be uncomfortable). Or perhaps the hearing aid keeps falling out (which can be infuriating). These types of problems can make it hard to adapt to your hearing aids, so it’s best to find solutions as early as possible. Try these tips:

  • If you notice a lot of feedback, ensure that your hearing aids are correctly sitting in your ears (it could be that your fit is just a bit off) and that there aren’t any obstructions (earwax for instance).
  • Consult your hearing expert to double check that the hearing aids are correctly calibrated to your hearing loss.
  • Discuss any ringing or buzzing with your hearing specialist. Sometimes, your cell phone can cause interference with your hearing aid. In other situations, it could be that we have to make some adjustments.
  • Charge your hearing aids every night or exchange the batteries. When the batteries on your hearing aids begin to decline, they normally don’t work as efficiently as they’re intended to.

Adapting to Your New Hearing Aids Has Its Advantages

Just as it could with a new pair of glasses, it may possibly take you a little bit of time to adjust to your new hearing aids. Hopefully, with the help of these guidelines, that adjustment period will go somewhat more smoothly (and quickly). But you will be pleased by how normal it will become if you stay with it and find a routine. And once that occurs, you’ll be capable of devoting your attention to the things you’re actually hearing: like your favorite programs or music or the daily interactions you’ve missed. These sounds remind you that all those adjustments are worth it ultimately. And change is good.

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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