7 Easy Ways to Adjust to Wearing Hearing Aids – Fast
All major life changes are stressful at first, even if you know that they will ultimately positively impact your life. Using hearing aids for the first time is no different! There’s a foreign object jammed in your ear, and while it helps you to hear… the sounds aren’t quite how you remember them.
This discomfort will pass in time to the point where you won’t even notice that you’re wearing a hearing aid. If you want to speed up the transition, then read on:
1. FIRST THINGS FIRST – FIND THE BEST FIT FOR YOU
As excited as you might be to turn on the hearing aid, slow down. A hearing aid that doesn’t fit well in your ear leads to ear-piercing feedback and irritation of your ear canal.
Avoid this by testing each of the ear tips that come with your hearing aid. You’re looking for the one that fits you like a glove and offers a perfect seal. It’s OK to wiggle and turn the tip in your ear and explore what feels right (and comfortable!).
If you have a smaller ear canal, the GB1 may be too big for your ears – you may want to consider upgrading to the GB2 Rechargeable Hearing Aid, which offers a more compact design.
2. PUMP UP THE VOLUME (OR TURN IT DOWN)
Now you’ve got a snug-fitting hearing aid, it’s time to focus on finding the best volume level for your needs. The most important thing to remember is to start with a low volume to avoid damaging your hearing. We recommend going for a volume of 10%, or as close as possible to the lowest setting – as a bonus, this technique also minimizes the screech of feedback!
You can do this easily using the adjustment tool (included with your delivery) and turning the volume controls counterclockwise. Once done, simply insert the hearing aid and listen.
Don’t do this in complete silence – turn on the TV, play your favorite song, or ask a friend to speak to you so you can gauge whether your hearing aid is delivering enough volume or not.
From there on out, it’s simply a process of adjusting the volume according to your needs. Once set, you can pretty much forget about it and enjoy the sounds of the world once again!
3. BE CAREFUL WHEN PUTTING YOUR HEARING AID IN
While your hearing aids are hardy, they can also be noisy when you’re putting them in! It’s normal for them to emit whistles and feedback, especially when the volume is too high – to be safe and avoid damaging your hearing further, follow the procedure in step 2.
You will also want to ensure that the hearing aid microphone isn’t obstructed – this can also cause feedback. Avoid putting pressure on the microphone as you insert the device. You can keep the whistles and screeches to a bare minimum!
4. START OFF SLOWLY – THINK MARATHON, NOT SPRINT
You may share a common belief with others that you can just put a hearing aid in straight away and get about your daily business. Millions of people do this – but the reality is that these people have been using aids for years and are comfortable with hearing aids.
When you start wearing aids for the first time, your body will over-emphasize the physical sensation of a foreign object in your ear. At the same time, your brain will also be rewiring itself to adjust to a new way of processing sounds.
It’s a lot to take in, and you’re not alone if you find the initial transition uncomfortable. This is completely normal. By wearing your hearing aids for just a few hours a day, you give yourself a slower and more stable transition that makes adjustment that little easier.
And yes – after your body has adjusted, you won’t even notice your hearing aids!
5. IT’S OK TO BE FRUSTRATED IN THE BEGINNING
No major lifestyle change comes without discomfort, frustration, and even stress. After a lifetime of free, open ears, you’re now having to deal with what feels like a blockage and even irritation.
Some days may be worse than others, but rest assured that your body will adjust. Just remember why you’re doing this and keep going – you’ll be thankful you did!
6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SUPPORT OPEN TO YOU
Adjusting to wearing a hearing aid can feel like a lonely, almost impossible challenge sometimes. You may feel that you have nobody to turn to on days when you’re feeling really frustrated with the process.
The good news is that you’re not alone. At Best Aid Hearing, you’ve found a family that will stick with you through thick and thin – and as hearing aid experts, we can also help you with any problems. All you need to do is visit www.bestaidhearing.com; with FAQs, articles, a full support center, and real human chat support on the phone or by email, we’re here to help!
7. KEEP INCREASING YOUR HEARING AID USE – DON’T GIVE UP
Remember why you’re doing all of this: you want to hear better! It’s easy to get frustrated with the process and lose motivation as the challenges of adjusting to wearing a hearing aid tax you.
The critical thing to remember is that you want to hear better – and that your body needs time to adjust. Minor adjustments and consistency are crucial to making this process as smooth as possible.
At Hearing888, we recommend a simple schedule. During the first week, you should wear your aids for 1 or 2 hours a day. In the second, build your usage to 3 to 4 hours a day. In week 3, build up to 5-6 hours a day. By the time week 4 rolls around, you should be comfortable enough to wear your aids all day long!
A month isn’t that long – and you’ll reap the benefits of sticking to this plan for the rest of your life.
At Hearing888, we’re not only about making hearing affordable for all – but we also want to make sure you’re getting the maximum benefit from your hearing aids.
By following the steps above, you’re minimizing your frustrations while using a device that will significantly enhance the quality of your life. To put it simply, once you adjust to your new hearing aids, you won’t want to go anywhere without them!
The Hearing888 Team
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