Congrats! Modern hearing aids are an impressive piece of technology, and you’ve recently become the proud owner of a shiny new set. But, as with all new devices, there are things that hearing aid owners wish someone had informed them about.
Let’s look at nine typical mistakes new hearing aid wearers make and how you can avoid them.
1. Failing to understand hearing aid functionality
Or, more specifically, understand how your hearing aid works. The hearing experience will be dramatically enhanced if you know how to use advanced features for different environments like on the street, at the movies, or in a restaurant.
It may be able to sync wirelessly to your smartphone, TV, or stereo. It might also have a setting that makes phone conversations clearer.
If you fail to learn about these features, it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut by using your technologically-advanced hearing aid in a rudimentary way. Hearing aids nowadays can do more than make the sound louder.
In order to get the clearest and best sound quality, take some time to practice using the hearing aid in different places. Test out how well you hear by asking a friend or family member to help you.
As with anything new, it will get easier after a little practice. And your hearing experience will be 10X better than when you just turn the volume up and down.
2. Thinking that your hearing will instantly improve
It’s not unusual for a new hearing aid users to think that their hearing will be optimal from the first day. This is an incorrect assumption. Some people say it takes a month or more before they are completely comfortable with their hearing aid. But don’t get frustrated. The time you take is easily worth it according to those who are persistent.
After you get home, give yourself a couple of days to get used to the new situation. It won’t be that much different than breaking in new shoes. Usually, you will need to go slow and use your new hearing aids a little at a time.
Start in a quiet setting with a friend where you are just talking. Familiar voices might sound different initially, and this can be disorienting. Ask your friends if you’re speaking too loud and make the necessary adjustments.
Slowly start to visit new places and use the hearing aid for more extended periods of time.
Be patient with yourself, and you’ll have lots of great hearing experiences to look forward to.
3. Not being truthful about your level of hearing loss during your hearing assessments
In order to be certain you get the correct hearing aid technology, it’s important to answer any questions we may ask honestly.
Go back and get another test if you realize you might not have been totally honest after you get your hearing aids. Getting it straight the first time is easier. The hearing aid type and style that will be best for you will be determined by the level and kind of hearing loss you have.
As an illustration, individuals with hearing loss in the high frequency range will need a particular type of hearing aid. People who are dealing with mid-range hearing loss will call for different technology and etc.
4. Not getting a hearing aid fitting
There are numerous requirements that your hearing aids need to simultaneously manage: They need to efficiently boost sound, they need to be easy to put in and take out, and they need to be comfortable in your ears. All three of those variables will be addressed during your fitting.
When you’re getting fitted, you may:
- Undergo hearing tests to adjust the correct power for your hearing aid.
- Have molds of your ears made and measurements taken.
5. Not tracking your results
It’s highly recommended that you take notes on how your hearing aid performs and feels once you get fitted. If you have problems hearing in large rooms, make a note of that. Make a note if one ear seems tighter than the other. Even note if everything feels right on. With this information, we can personalize the settings of your hearing aid so it works at peak effectiveness and comfort.
6. Not thinking about how you will utilize your hearing aid ahead of time
Water-resistant hearing aids are available. However, water can severely damage others. Some have sophisticated features you might be willing to pay more for because you take pleasure in certain activities.
You might ask our opinion but the choice must be yours. You won’t use your hearing aid if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle and only you know what features you will use.
You’ll be wearing your hearing aid for quite a while. So you don’t want to be disappointed by settling when you really would have benefited from a certain feature.
A few more things to think about
- Maybe you want a high degree of automation. Or maybe you’re more of a do-it-yourself type of person. How much battery life will you need?
- Speak with us about these things before your fitting so you can be sure you’re completely satisfied.
- You may care about whether people can see your hearing aid. Or perhaps you want to wear them with style.
Many challenges that come up regarding fit, lifestyle, and how you use your hearing aids can be resolved through the fitting process. In addition, many hearing aid makers will let you demo the devices before deciding. This trial period will help you determine which brand will be best for your requirements.
7. Not properly taking care of your hearing aids
Moisture is a real challenge for the majority of hearing aids. You may want to invest in a dehumidifier if you live in an overly humid place. It’s not a good idea to keep your hearing aid in the bathroom where everyone showers.
Consistently wash your hands before handling the hearing aid or batteries. Oils encountered naturally on your hand can effect how well the hearing aid functions and the duration of the batteries.
Don’t let earwax or skin cells accumulate on the hearing aid. Instead, the manufacturer’s suggested cleaning procedures should be followed.
Taking simple actions like these will increase the life and function of your hearing aid.
8. Not getting spare batteries
New hearing aid users often learn this concept at the worst times. Suddenly, when you’re watching your favorite show, your batteries quit just as you’re about to discover “who done it”.
Like many electronic devices, battery life fluctuates depending on your usage and the external environment. So even if you just changed your batteries, keep an extra set with you. Don’t let an unpredictable battery cause you to miss out on something important.
9. Not practicing your hearing exercises
You might assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first get them. But the regions of your brain responsible for interpreting sound are also impacted by hearing loss not just your ears.
You can begin to work on rebuilding those ear-to-brain pathways after you get your new hearing aids. For some individuals, this may happen quite naturally and this is particularly true if the hearing loss developed recently. But for others, a deliberate approach may be necessary to get your hearing firing on all cylinders again. A couple of common strategies include the following.
Reading out loud
One of the best ways you can recreate those pathways between your ears and your brain is to spend some time reading out loud. It may feel a bit silly at first, but don’t allow that to stop you. You’re practicing reconnecting the experience of saying words with the sounds they make. The more you create those connections, the better your hearing (and your hearing aid) will work.
Audiobooks
You can always try audiobooks if reading out loud isn’t appealing to you. You can get a physical copy of the book and an audio copy. Then as the audiobook plays, you can read along. You’ll hear a word as you’re reading it just like reading out loud. And that helps the hearing-and-language region of your brain get used to hearing (and understanding) speech again.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/