Tips for New Hearing Aid Users
Wearing hearing aids for the first time can feel overwhelming for some people. If you’ve been struggling with hearing loss for a while, this can be a big adjustment while your brain and ears get used to your newly restored hearing abilities.
Expect an Adjustment Period
When you’re getting used to hearing aids, your brain has to relearn how to process sounds, because of this everyday sounds might be different or louder than you remember. You also need time to adapt both to the fit and functionality of your new hearing equipment.
As you become accustomed to wearing them, they’ll get more comfortable over time. It’s important to set realistic expectations and accept that there will be a breaking in period.
A Timeline for Getting Used to New Hearing Aids
While everyone will adapt to wearing hearing aids for the first time, here are general milestones that are common for most people:
- After one week: You’re getting used to how the devices feel in your ears, and recognizing sounds again.
- After one month: You’re experiencing increased comfort and clearer hearing, even in moderately noisy environments.
- After three months: Your hearing aids feel like part of your routine and you’re understanding speech better and feeling more confident in social settings.
3 Tips for Wearing Hearing Aids
Start in a Controlled Environment
If you’re new to hearing aids, you should start wearing them in familiar places like at home. Practice using them in one-on-one settings and conversations as a way to ease into your new hearing abilities.
Wear Them Consistently
The more you wear your hearing aids, the faster your brain adapts from the hearing loss you were experiencing. Your hearings aids are part of your everyday life so you should wear them consistently to adjust to them faster.
Learn Basic Care and Maintenance
You have to take care of your new hearing aids to keep them functioning properly. It’s important to get in the habit early of cleaning them daily, storing them in a safe place, and charging them or replacing the batteries when needed.
Common First-Time Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Apart from having to adjust to the feel of the hearing aids themselves, there are some other hurdles you’ll have to overcome, such as:
- Your voice might sound differently at first but will normalize as your brain adjusts.
- Background noise might feel distracting since you can hear it more clearly now.
- There might be feedback or whistling coming from your hearing aids that can be solved with a quick adjustment by a hearing aid specialist.
- Some minor discomfort is common as you get used to wearing hearing aids but it shouldn’t persist.
Mistakes to Avoid as a New Hearing Aid User
No transition is perfect and getting used to hearing aids might come with some pitfalls that you should avoid in order to best accustom yourself to your new hearing aids.
- Not wearing them often enough.
- Skipping follow-up appointments.
- Expecting them to fix your hearing instantly.
- Ignoring small issues instead of getting them checked right away.
Let Beltone Skoric Help You Adjust to Your New Hearing Aids
Getting used to your new hearing aids requires support. The adjustment period takes time, but taking this step toward regaining your hearing is no small feat.
At Beltone Skoric, we’re here to make sure you never feel like you’re navigating that journey alone. Whether it’s answering a quick question, fine-tuning your devices, or simply celebrating your successes with you, our team is committed to helping you get the most from your hearing aids.
