Hearing aids have come a long way. They are now even smaller, smarter, and with advanced settings. Hearing aids can greatly improve the way of life of someone with hearing loss. Adjusting to them can take a little while at first, but this is normal. If you’ve recently had a hearing aid fitted you’ll already be noticing new and amplified sounds. Your own voice may even seem a little different. Hearing aids are custom-made so you shouldn’t have an issue with the way they fit. The improvement in your hearing is the main thing to get used to. Here are a few tips to help you adjust to a new hearing aid.
It’s normal to feel different
Remember it’s normal for your hearing aid to feel unusual at first. Sounds are much louder and you’ll be able to pick up background noise that you weren’t able to before. One common difference is that your own voice may sound a little odd at first. Don’t worry, you will get used to this. There shouldn’t be any real negative hearing aid side effects, however. If they feel uncomfortable at all, speak to your audiologist to have them adjusted. They will also be able to answer any questions you may have about how to use them.
Try them at home first
It’s often easier to get used to your hearing aid at home first. Test them out in quieter situations and take them out to have breaks if you prefer. Practise using them for straightforward activities. You can try watching TV or having one-on-one conversations with your family. Once you feel comfortable you can take them out and about.
Test out different environments
You can then experiment with your new hearing aid in different environments. Why not even go to the local forest and listen out for animals and birds? Try wearing them out to lunch and engaging in a group conversation. In order to improve communication, let your friends and family know that you’re testing out your hearing aid. You will soon develop confidence in a wide variety of situations.
Play with the settings
There are many advanced features in new hearing aid technology so make the most of these. Adjust the settings to your liking, and try connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone via BlueTooth. It depends on the type of hearing aid you’ve got, but have a play with all the different features. Most newer models will automatically adjust to your environment and personalized settings, making it easier now more than ever to adapt to your hearing aids.
Speak to your audiologist for advice
If you have any doubts or questions at all speak to your audiologist. Part of their service is to help you adjust to wearing your new hearing aid. Make sure you attend follow up appointments to ensure everything is working as it should be. This way you’ll know you’re getting the most out of your hearing aid and will feel more confident every day.
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