You’ve put off far too long but you finally purchased new hearing aids. Great job taking the first step to better your quality of life. Modern hearing aids are newer technology and there are things you should learn to do and things that you should learn not to do. Concerning hearing aids the list is important even though it’s short.
There are other things to consider besides simply taking care of your hearing. The device will be less useful and your adjustment time will be slowed by the things you fail to do. Others in your situation have made mistakes that you can learn from. These four things that you shouldn’t do should be taken into consideration.
1. Straight Out of the Box Into Your Ear
If you don’t explore the features that are included with the brand you purchased and take the time to understand the basics of how your device functions you could be missing powerful features. Chances are if you just turn on your new hearing aid and put them right in, they won’t work efficiently for you. You might also lose out on the best features such as Bluetooth or noise filters.
In contrast, if you simply slow it down somewhat and read the included documentation, you can learn how to get the cleanest sound quality and work on the various adjustments that maximize the hearing aid’s function.
When you purchase your hearing aids you will have a general understanding of what they can do. Now you have to learn how to use and that which takes a little time.
2. It Takes Time For Your Ears to Adjust
Whenever you get new glasses, your eyes require time to adapt to the difference in the lenses or the shape of the frame. The same is true for hearing aids. High quality sound in a new hearing aid does not happen by magic. That’s an unrealistic expectation.
Your ears will need a couple days to adjust to what is a huge change, especially if you haven’t worn hearing aids in the past. Consistency is the key to adapting quickly to new hearing aids.
Put them in and leave them in place. Usually, new users feel an urge to keep taking them out. That urge should be resisted. If you are uncomfortable, consider why.
- Is the sound too loud? Maybe you should turn down the volume.
- Until you get used to it, take out the hearing aids when it gets uncomfortable. Go back to the seller and have your hearing aids inspected if they don’t really fit properly..
- Are you overwhelmed by the background noise? Spend a few minutes in a quiet place each day when you first put them in. Sit down and talk with a friend. Ask them if you are talking too loud. This will help you make adjustments to balance out the sound.
Giving up is the biggest mistake you can make. Your hearing aids will do you no good shoved in a drawer and forgotten.
3. Get the Hearing Aid Fitted When You First Get it
Finding the right hearing aids begins before you start actually shopping and there is a lot to it. If you are not telling the truth about what you can and can’t hear at the hearing test at the audiologist, that’s a problem. Hearing aids that aren’t The right ones for your type or level of hearing loss can be the result. Some hearing aids pick up a high-frequency sound by design for example. If you have a hard time hearing mid or low sounds, these are not the ideal hearing aids for you.
Your lifestyle, in many cases may not seem well suited to hearing aids. Bluetooth technology is a feature that you will want if you use a phone allot.
While you are still in the trial period for your new hearing aids, take note of the times where you wanted your hearing aids to do something different or when it felt like they didn’t work correctly. You can return to the hearing care technician and talk about those issues. An adjustment might be required or you may need a different device.
Most retailers do free fittings so be certain to find one of them when you buy your hearing aids. If they’re too big for your ears they won’t work properly.
4. Sloppy Maintenance
Successful maintenance of your hearing aids begins with understanding how and when to do it. Even if you’ve used hearing aids before you have to take the time to learn how to take care of your new device.
There are things you shouldn’t do with your hearing aids in like using hair care products when you have them in or taking them out without turning them off so consult your documentation.
Don’t forget to read the maintenance guide and troubleshooting instructions.
Cleaning is an important part of caring for hearing aids, so be sure to understand all the hows and whys. The hearing aid is not the only thing that needs to be cleaned. Correctly cleaning your ears is important too.
It’s up to you to make sure you get the most from your new hearing aids. It’s an ongoing process from shopping to use. Make an appointment with a hearing care professional to learn what type of hearing aid will best fit your needs.