Why Is Getting Used to Hearing Aids Challenging?
As any other change involving the body, beginning to wear hearing aids comes with a transition period. Most likely, due to your hearing loss, you have lost the ability to hear speech and environmental sounds like traffic, wind, the hum of household appliances, etc. and over time, your brain has got used to not hearing those.
However, when you start wearing hearing aids, the brain suddenly starts registering them again. This can be quite overwhelming at first since re-learning which sounds are important and which sounds should be ignored takes time.
Steps to Achieve a Smoother Transition
Naturally, your audiologist is your best guide when it comes to getting used to your hearing aids and implementing their advice is the best approach to go about the adjustment. However, there are steps you can take on your own to make the process smoother:
Gradually Increasing the Time Spent Wearing Your Hearing Aids
When first beginning to wear your aids, the best strategy is to start by using them once or twice a day for around an hour or two. It is also a good idea to ensure that you initially use them in quiet surroundings only. When they start to feel more comfortable, you can begin wearing them outdoors and gradually build up towards using them throughout the entire day. The more time you spend wearing your aids, the easier it will be to get adjusted to them.
Taking Part in Conversations
The first conversations you have while wearing your hearing aids should be in a quiet space in order to avoid background noise. Another good idea is to try and only speak to one or two people at a time at first, ensuring that you can see their faces so that you can easily lip-read them.
As more time passes, you’ll start feeling more comfortable taking part in conversations with larger groups of people. You might find out that socializing is more enjoyable thanks to the benefits of wearing hearing aids, but there is a possibility that you still might not be able to follow every part of the conversation. Try not to get frustrated if this happens; it is a normal part of the adjustment process, and you can always ask one of your conversation partners to sum up what has been said to you.
Using Your New Aids in Noisy Environments
Spaces with lots of background noise present like restaurants and gyms are the most challenging listening environments. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get used to your aids before you begin using them in situations such as these. The more time you spend wearing the devices and allowing your brain to adjust to them, the better you will be able to manage background noise.
Introducing TV/Radio Sounds
Wearing your hearing aids while watching TV will help you get used to a wider variety of sounds. You can use the opportunity to test out how you respond to various volume levels and compare your usual preferred level to the one that feels better when wearing your aids.
How Hearing Assistive Devices Can Help You Get Accustomed to Your Hearing Aids
If you have made an investment in good quality hearing aids, you might not realize at first that even the best devices can’t always provide you with clear, focused sound in noisy environments, especially if your conversation partner is positioned at a distance larger than 6ft from you.
Relying solely on your aids to minimize background noise in challenging hearing spaces can be unrealistic. In situations such as this, hearing assistive devices can be incredibly convenient, especially if you are in the process of getting accustomed to your hearing aids. Special gadgets such as FM hearing systems or microphones can help you minimize unwanted noise and focus on the sounds that you want to hear.
What is more, if you are looking to improve your TV listening experience, it can be a good idea to have a look at the various Assistive TV Products available that can wirelessly stream sound directly into your hearing aids, allowing you to enjoy your favorite programs at an independent volume from other household members.
If you are going through the process of getting used to your new hearing aids, why not have a look at our shop? We offer a robust range of assistive listening devices that can provide you with clear sound and brilliant speech discrimination, allowing you to transition smoothly and make the most of your hearing aids. Click here to find the device that suits your needs best!
