So, you are about to discover the world of hearing aids and all they have to offer. Get ready to experience all the ways that they can enhance your relationships, everyday conversations, self-confidence, independence and so much more. However, the adjustment time often can throw people for a loop. Unlike prescription glasses which can correct your vision instantaneously, hearing aids take some time to adjust and some extra care to get the most out of them. Fortunately, we are here to help you navigate this new stage in your life to a place where you will be so grateful to hear with more ease every day. In fact, 91 percent of people report a high rate of satisfaction after a year of dedicated use with hearing aids. Here are some tips to ensure you get everything you want out of your new devices.
Give Your Hearing Aids a Chance
Most people wait on average seven to ten years from the time they suspect they have a hearing loss to act and schedule a hearing exam. The problem with this is over this time period your brain experiences what is known as auditory deprivation. Your brain normalizes the loss of certain sounds and tones. When you first start to hear with new hearing aids, sounds you haven’t heard in close to a decade may become jarring. It can take your brain a while to adjust.
Give yourself time to get used to your new hearing aids. At first start wearing them for just an hour or two at home. Try reading out loud or listening to the radio. Over two weeks slowly build up to wearing them all day long, from the moment you wake up till the time you go to sleep. In just a short time it will be difficult to imagine going through the day without your hearing aids in.
Learn How To Use the Other Features
Your hearing aids may come with a host of different settings and features to help you hear in all sorts of listening environments. We can help you navigate all the ins and outs of your new hearing devices to make sure you know how to use them and when. Some common features include Bluetooth technology, directional microphones to help you hear in noisy spaces and background suppression. Professional musicians and music aficionados may enjoy music settings which amplify the nuances of music. Soon you’ll feel like your hearing aids are an important and easy to use extension of your hearing. Some even offer the ability to adjust via a smartphone app!
Take Great Care of Your Hearing Aids
Most hearing aids last three to seven years. While many people are shocked that their lifespan is not longer, consider how much they do. Hearing aids go everywhere that you go and are amplifying sound from the moment you wake till the time you go to sleep only to be removed when encountering moisture or water. To make sure you get as long as possible with your hearing aids, we recommend that you add cleaning and inspecting them for damage to part of your everyday hygiene routine.
Wipe away dirt, dust and earwax with a soft dry cloth and pick away any build up from microphones and speakers to get the clearest sound possible. If you do witness any cracks or missing tubes, we are here to help walk you through repairs. If you can’t do it at home, we are here to help you get the most out of your hearing aids.
Make sure you get a hearing exam
Today, over the counter hearing aids are becoming widely available based on new legislation to help make hearing aids more accessible to more people. While this is excellent news, what is lost in this is a comprehensive hearing exam. Most people’s hearing loss is just a little different from one another. To make sure you have hearing aids that are fitted custom for your ears and a program to amplify only the sounds you need to hear contact us for a hearing exam today and enjoy amazing hearing for years to come!
