Getting used to your hearing aids

Getting used to new hearing aids can take some time and patience, but there are steps you can take to make the transition smoother.

Hearing aids are a great solution for those with hearing loss, but they can also be intimidating and overwhelming when you first start using them. It can take some time to get used to wearing them and adjusting to the new sounds around you, but with a little patience and persistence, you’ll soon be on your way to better hearing. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for getting used to new hearing aids.

Give Yourself Time

One of the most important things to remember when getting used to new hearing aids is to give yourself time. It can take several weeks or even months to get used to wearing hearing aids and to adjust to the new sounds around you. Be patient and don’t expect to be an expert right away. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or even frustrated at first, but with time, you’ll get used to wearing them and you’ll start to appreciate the benefits they bring.

Wear Your Hearing Aids Consistently

To get used to your new hearing aids, it’s important to wear them consistently. This will help you get used to the new sounds and the sensation of wearing them. Start by wearing them for short periods of time, such as an hour or two, and gradually increase the amount of time you wear them each day. Try to wear them in different environments, such as at home, at work, and when you’re out and about, so you can get used to different sounds and noises.

Work with Your Hearing Healthcare Professional

Your hearing healthcare professional is a valuable resource when it comes to getting used to your new hearing aids. They can help you with the fitting process and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that your hearing aids are comfortable and working correctly. They can also help you understand how to use the various features of your hearing aids and how to properly care for them.

Get Familiar with the Sounds Around You

One of the biggest challenges when getting used to new hearing aids is adjusting to the new sounds around you. The sounds you hear may seem different or even strange at first, but with time, you’ll get used to them. To help you get familiar with the sounds, try to focus on one sound at a time, such as a conversation or a bird singing. Listen to it carefully and try to understand what it sounds like. Repeat this process with different sounds until you get used to them all.

Some situations you may encounter

Hearing “too” much

Hearing too much is a very common sensation indeed. Rest assured that it is a very normal part of getting used to hearing devices. When you first start using your device, the range of hearing you can access changes for the better! Your brain works with sounds you may not have heard for some time. Little noises—water running and paper crumpling—may suddenly seem quite loud. You’ll need to get to know these soft, high pitch parts of the spectrum again. They’re the same types of sounds that make speech seem crisper.

Brain adjustment time

You actually hear with your brain and not with your ears. Many people expect hearing aids to provide a perfect solution the instant they put them on. Sometimes this happens, but often that’s not the case. Research shows it takes at least 30 days for your brain to adjust and relearn how to hear again with new hearing aids. To guarantee your best outcome with hearing aids, we developed a 30-day program to help your brain adjust.

My own voice sounds strange

Autophony is the term used to describe the sensation of hearing your own voice. This is one of the most common things people notice when they begin wearing an in-ear hearing device. Remarkably, it goes away within a week or two when your brain adjusts to it and eventually ignores it.

Speech clarity

With consistent daily wear of your devices, your brain will start to hone in on speech and filter out those extraneous sounds like chip packets crinkling. This usually happens during the first month of use. Be patient during this time, and try out the different listening programs. After several weeks, many people find it easier to hold a conversation and hear better in noisy environments — their listening effort is substantially decreased. Your speech discrimination will likely continue to improve over time. Possibly for several months. But remember, the key to anything is practice, so start conversing!

Make conversations easier

Get the best out of your hearing experience by being an active listener. Here are some useful strategies for you and your conversation partners to help you hear life to the fullest. And remember, you took a big step forward by addressing your hearing needs; your friends and loved ones can take some little steps, too:

Tips for loved ones

• Speak slowly and clearly
• Be aware of where you are standing in comparison to your loved ones
• Use body language – face-to-face communication works best
• Be patient & encourage your loved ones to tell you what you need

Tips for hearing aid users

• Ask loved ones to slow their pace
• Stick to quiet environments at first
• Ask loved ones to repeat themselves
• Tell your loved ones to get your attention

Communication is a two-way street. It’s important for both hearing aid users and their loved ones to work together and figure out the best way to speak with each other to ensure the hearing aid adjustment process is as smooth as possible.

Taking care of your devices

Store your hearing aids properly

Protect your hearing aids by keeping them in the case when you are not using them to avoid damage. Do not sleep with hearing aids in your ears.

Keep your hearing aids dry

Ensure you take off the hearing aids when showering or going for a swim.

Keep your hearing aids clean

Clean your hearing aids regularly to keep them performing at their best. Use a dry and soft cloth to clean your devices; never use water, cleaning solutions or other products. Additionally, store your hearing aids away from products you use, such as hairspray, lotion or cologne.

The why behind cleaning your devices daily

All those amplified sound needs a clear pathway out of the device. The Sound Inlet needs to be clear for the microphone to pick up soft incoming signals. We recommend cleaning devices often, not all accumulation is visible, and a daily routine will prevent build-up.

Practice Makes Perfect

The more you use your hearing aids, the more comfortable you’ll become with them. Try to wear them as much as possible and in different environments. The more you practice, the more natural it will become, and soon you’ll find that you don’t even think about wearing them anymore.

Learn more about affordable hearing aids and hearing health.

Your questions answered

Understanding the brain adjustment time

Many people expect hearing aids to provide a perfect solution the moment they put them on. Sometimes this happens, but often that’s not the case. Research shows it takes at least 30 days for your brain to adjust and relearn how to hear again with new hearing aids. To guarantee your best outcome with hearing aids, we developed our success program to help your brain adjust. Check out of success program brochure to learn more about your first few weeks with hearing aids.
Why are my ears itchy?

When you start wearing new hearing aids, it’s normal to have a tickling or itching sensation. Your ear canals are very sensitive, so your devices can produce a feeling similar to a feather touching your skin. Like many new sensations, the tickling or itching feeling is only temporary and your body will get used to it as you wear them consistently. It’s important to wear them every day but stick to the recommended wearing schedule to avoid overdoing it. Start by wearing them for a couple of hours a day and gradually increase your wearing time until you’re able to wear them all day by the end of your first month. To learn more about this topic, check out this article, Top 6 Tops to Help You Adjust to New Hearing Aids. If your ears are very dry or the itching continues, try to use a moisturizer, lubricant or anti-itch cream at the opening of your ear canal at night before bed. Make sure to wipe out the ear canal the next morning before inserting your hearing aids.
Why does my own voice sound strange?

If you’ve ever heard yourself in a telephone message or in a home movie, you probably felt like you sounded much different in the recording than you do in real life. One of the reasons your voice sounds richer when you speak (vs. hearing it through a device) is bone conduction. Your vocal cords create vibrations in your skull that make your voice sound lower and richer than it actually is. To learn more about this topic, check out this article, Top 6 Tips to Help You Adjust to New Hearing Aids.
What if the device doesn’t fit my ear?

Your hearing aid will arrive with pre-installed size S (small) click sleeves. If those aren’t comfortable, try changing to one of the other three sizes provided (XS, M, L). Choose a smaller size if the hearing aid is pressing on your ear. Choose a larger size if the hearing aid feels loose or makes a whistling noise. Also, note that your left and right ear may be slightly different sizes, so feel free to use different size sleeves in each ear. To learn how to change the click sleeves, check the Product user guide.
Why do my ears feel clogged?

Does this occur when you are talking? One of the reasons it sounds like your ears are clogged or it feels like your head is in a barrel when you speak is due to bone conduction. Your vocal cords create vibrations in your skull that make your voice sound lower and richer than it actually is. Because the device is physically in your ear, sometimes it creates the effect of being “bottled up.” In the majority of cases, it’s just a matter of time before your brain will adjust and you’ll forget about it. If you just started wearing new hearing aids or you wear them infrequently, the best thing you can do is to wear them consistently every day. Within a week, your brain will determine this as the new normal and you’ll no longer notice it.