Is there an adjustment period for hearing aids?

Hearing loss is something that many people experience in their lives. The inability to follow what friends and family are saying as well as you used to or the fact that you have started to find gaps in conversations may mean that you are experiencing hearing loss. 

You’re not alone, though; at some point, up to 20% of the population will have some degree of hearing loss. However, you can manage your hearing loss, and with the help of a hearing aid, you will be able to hear and communicate clearly again. 

GETTING A HEARING TEST

Treating your hearing loss will require a visit to your audiologist, who will ask plenty of questions and carry out assessments on your hearing. This will allow them to assess whether or not you need hearing aids. 

By getting a hearing test and answering a few background questions about your lifestyle and general health, the cause of your hearing loss may be understood. From this, the right hearing aid can be recommended.

YOUR FIRST HEARING AID

Finding the right hearing aid for you will be necessary, and that is why being honest and helpful is essential when the audiologist asks you questions. They will have expert knowledge of the various hearing aids available and can directly understand your needs.

GETTING USED TO HOW YOUR HEARING AID FITS

Modern hearing aids are designed with a variety of different lifestyles in mind. They are lightweight and may be mouldable to your ear. 

Get your hearing aid fitted by your audiologist when you get it, and they will help you out by showing you how to fit it.

Because hearing aids are lightweight and designed to fit well, it will be barely noticeable that you are wearing them at all. 

As long as the hearing aid is the right size and fitted correctly, you should not feel any discomfort, soreness, or rubbing from it. If you are ever faced with any of these problems, then it would be due to wearing an unsuitable or ill-fitting hearing aid. Speak with your audiologist, who will be able to advise you on fitting your hearing aid correctly.  

GETTING USED TO BEING ABLE TO HEAR FULLY AGAIN

Hearing loss is very often a gradual process and may even happen for several years. You may find that it has taken place over such a long time that you will not have noticed some parts of your hearing dropping away. There may be many detailed sounds that you miss or have become dull or muffled. 

One of the most significant adjustments that you will need to make when getting your hearing aid is the fact that you will be able to pick out these sounds again. Whether it is the sound made when peeling a potato, or a bird singing in your garden, greater clarity in your hearing will help highlight these sounds for you. 

Getting used to all of the new sounds may take a while, but your brain will soon re-learn, which sounds to prioritize and the patient that you are, and the more that you wear your hearing aid, the better the experience will be for you. 

It will be important that you keep your volume settings to the levels that your audiologist suggests. You may be tempted to change the levels, but this may cause some issues if the settings are too loud. If you need advice on the volume level of your hearing aid, be sure and consult with your hearing aid center to get the best out of your hearing aid. 

LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEARING AID

Looking after your hearing aid is essential. This will mean cleaning it and keeping it safe when it is not in use. Get into a routine as early as possible so that you do not damage it, and you will continue to get the best out of your hearing aid for a long time to come. 

USING YOUR HEARING AID WITH A MOBILE PHONE

If you find that you are getting whistling sounds from your hearing aid when you are using your mobile phone, move the phone further from your ear. Some phones will work better than others with hearing aids, and when shopping for your next model, check the compatibility. 

If you would like any more information about getting used to wearing a hearing aid, or anything else related to hearing loss, get in touch with Northgate Hearing Services. Call at 206-367-1345.