The experience of wearing a hearing aid for the first time

When you realize that you do need to wear hearing aids it can be a worrisome prospect. Not only do you need to overcome social stigma, but it’s easy to imagine a hearing aid resembling an inconvenient pair of glasses, yet it can be perfect for restoring your hearing. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and even with top-of-the-line hearing aids it is unlikely that your hearing will be restored to the same level as a normal person. But you shouldn’t be so desperate; here are some basic hearing aid facts that will equip you to adapt to it more quickly. Please keep reading for more details.

Hearing aids are just that – an aid – a way for you to enter the world of hearing in a high-tech way. You can regain a high level of hearing ability by carefully selecting a hearing aid which is based on your lifestyle and needs as well as your specific hearing loss choices.

Fitting in your hearing aid

Hearing loss varies from person to person

Everyone’s degree of hearing loss is different and changes over time. So try not to compare your hearing ability to others, as it doesn’t mean much in terms of your hearing improvement. It is your journey and destination that determines your very unique lifestyle choices and expectations for the future.

It takes time to adapt

Be patient and take more time. Know that there are no sudden fixes or instantaneous cures in this world. You don’t just count on tremendous amplification to get into the auditory world. It takes time for your brain, which is used to lower levels of sound, to adapt to the sounds that suddenly bombard it from all sides. For instance, the sound of a knife shredding on a wooden board may seem overwhelming at first.Retraining your brain to recognize and separate the sounds may take weeks or even months to perfect. Each individual is unique, and adaptation is determined by your level of hearing loss, how suddenly that loss occurs, and how quickly your brain adapts to new sounds. Patience and getting things right will be worth it all in the end.

Loud sounds can be unbearable. The surprising thing about wearing hearing devices is that it greatly heightens all the sounds produced around you.The first time you try to wear a hearing aid due to hearing loss, the sudden sounds coming from all angles can be intolerable. Your digital hearing aid should be pre-programmed to make sure that the volume you receive is both safe and handled at an appropriate level.Even so, you will still have to accustom yourself to picking up or ignoring certain background noises, just as your brain naturally does.

Suitable fit is critical

Nothing beats a proper fit. Proper insertion of a hearing aid takes some practice and is often difficult to do the first time. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t look back. If you continue to experience discomfort or impaired sound quality, it may be worthwhile to get a doctor or nurse to look at your ear canal and make sure it is not blocked with excess wax.

Wearing hearing aids can make your ears feel itchy, and this can be done by properly cleaning them every night, such as using a spray for the ears. You should never feel pain. If this happens, you need to seek further advice. Wearing something inside or behind your ears for a long time can feel strange at first. Just relax, you will get used to wearing hearing aids, just like people get used to wearing glasses.

Avoid noisy environments at the beginning of use

It will take time for your body to adjust to all the extra amplification of sound. Going day by day, you have the possibility to increase your use until it is at a level you feel comfortable with. It’s best to start by using in a quiet place. Throwing yourself into a loud party or noisy restaurant on your first day will only give you a headache. Forgive, what do you say? Thanks to the use of hearing aids, this verdict may not be as frequent. However, if you’re in a noisy environment, you’ll still be talking. Even if you have the best orientation technology in your hearing aids, it can be difficult to hear sounds like you used to.

Rediscover and embrace your voice

You will soon discover a new you, or more specifically, a new voice. When you first speak with amplification, the initial surprise is a common experience for many first-time wearers. You’ll get used to it.

Work with yourself to help you listen better

By getting to know your listening environment, you can additionally improve your listening skills. Turn your back on intrusive background noise whenever possible. For example, sitting with your back against a wall in a restaurant helps avoid hearing better conversations from the table behind you than from the table in front of you. Try to talk one conversation at a time. Position yourself closer to the person you are talking to so that you can easily see their facial expressions. That way, you can read their lips and reinforce what you’re hearing with their body language. Remember that conversation doesn’t have to be the perfect word.

Removal is a strange experience

Removing your hearing aid may make the sound feel leaden. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and just helps prove that you’ve heard a little better with the help from your aid.