If you are new to hearing aids, it’s important to know that they can take a little bit of time to get used to using.
A focus group of hearing aid users in 2014 concluded that “getting used to hearing aids is a challenging multi-factorial process with both psychosocial and practical difficulties besides demands of adjusting to hearing-aid input.”
However, by employing the following tips, you can make it easier to get used to your hearing aids and improve your listening experience.
Get Used To Using Your Device at Home First 
When you first get hearing aids, your brain and ears have to adjust to a new way of hearing. Sounds that you had not been able to pick up while your hearing loss was untreated are now amplified, and it can feel like an overwhelming adjustment at first. Spend some time at home getting used to how things sound when it’s relatively quiet.
Be Patient and Consistent
It’s important to wear your hearing aids consistently to get the most benefit. The goal is to get to a place where you are wearing your hearing aids during all waking hours (apart from times you are showering or in water) and only take them out when you sleep. However, you may need to work up to this.
If in the first week or so, you can only wear your device for a few hours, that’s OK. Just make sure to continue to increase the amount of time you spend wearing them each day until you get comfortable wearing them all the time.
Visit Quieter Spots at First
When you feel that you are ready to try out your hearing aids in public, try picking a quieter spot at first. Whether that’s a café, library, or maybe even meeting a friend or two for a peaceful walk through the Japanese Tea Garden, choose somewhere where the background noise won’t be too overwhelming. Also, it may be easier to only meet up with one or two people at first so that you don’t have to deal with multiple voices talking at once.
Contact Your Audiologist If You’re Having Issues
While an adjustment phase is completely normal, you should contact your audiologist if you are having serious problems with your hearing aids. Give them a call if you are experiencing:
- A lot of discomfort or pain while wearing your hearing aids
- Frequent whistling noises
- Poor sound quality
- Other bothersome issues that are preventing you from wearing your hearing aids
You can discuss your issues, and your audiologist can examine your device and see if any adjustments or setting changes need to be made.
If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, call San Francisco Audiology today.