Investing in your first pair of hearing aids can be a combination of expectancy and uncertainty. Taking the action to improve your hearing can have a powerful effect, enabling you to participate more fully in discussions, strengthen relationships with friends and family, and restore a deeper connection to the sounds that enhance your daily life. But like any new experience, it’s normal to have questions, especially about how hearing aids will feel and how long it might take to adjust.
New users frequently have apprehensions about the experience. Will the hearing aid be awkward or uncomfortable to use? Will everyday sounds seem too loud? Will it take long to get accustomed to them? Most people share these worries, yet with effective guidance and some tolerance, many discover that using hearing aids becomes a normal and convenient aspect of their everyday routines.
As you get through this change, it’s important to comprehend what lies ahead and take proactive steps to decrease any disruption, ensuring a seamless assimilation into your new situation.
What you can anticipate during the initial period of adaptation
Do hearing aids produce discomfort? At first, they can feel a bit peculiar, particularly if you’ve never put anything in your ears on a regular basis. Just like wearing a new pair of glasses or getting used to a watch, it takes time for your brain and body to adapt.
You will observe the most significant changes in two primary areas in the initial weeks of using hearing aids.
Physical sensation
You may at first detect some pressure or unfamiliarity in your ear canal. It is typical and common for many experts in hearing health to recommend a progressive approach to using the device, starting with a few hours every day and gradually extending the time.
A bit of discomfort is fine, but pain isn’t. If you experience soreness or pain from your devices, reach out to your hearing care professional without delay. They can adjust the fit or try a different design better suited to your ear shape.
Sound perception
One of the most surprising parts of the adjustment process is hearing everyday sounds that you might not have noticed before.
The hum of the refrigerator, birds singing outside your window, or your own footsteps might seem amplified initially. This is because your brain is learning to process a fuller range of sounds again.
While it may seem like a lot to process, your brain will slowly adjust to disregard insignificant sounds in the background and concentrate on important things like voices and music. Your auditory system is essentially recalibrating and adjusting to new sounds.
Tips to enhance hearing aid comfort and performance
Fortunately, there are various tactics available to help in making you feel secure and self-assured as you acclimate to your new hearing devices.
1. Begin slowly
Don’t feel pressured to wear your hearing aids all day immediately. Start out with dedicating one to four hours everyday, particularly in peaceful settings like your residence.
Progressively increase as you become more comfortable with the feel and sound of the hearing aids.
2. Practice makes perfect
Try using your hearing aids while engaging in activities that help your brain adapt. Enjoying an audiobooks while reading along or watching movies with subtitles can help strengthen speech recognition and boost your listening skills in an enjoyable and stimulating way.
3. Keep communicating with your audiologist.
Fit and performance go hand-in-hand. If something doesn’t seem right, whether it’s how the device sits in your ear or how the sound is being processed, don’t wait. Your audiologist can calibrate your hearing aids and offer recommendations for improved benefits. A personalized hearing aid tailored to your specific ear shape and needs could be the most appropriate choice in certain situations.
Welcoming your new hearing experience
You can expect a short transition time as you get used to using your hearing aids. With regular use, correct care, and back up from your hearing specialist, your hearing aids will soon feel like second nature.
Rather than concentrating on the device itself, your focus will shift to the joys of clearer conversations, natural sounds, music, and day-to-day interactions.
The trick is patience, practice, and staying proactive about your comfort. Before long, your hearing aids will not only improve how you hear, but also how you live.