Congratulations! Modern hearing aids are an impressive piece of technology, and you’ve just become the proud owner of a shiny new pair. But new hearing aid users will wish somebody had told them certain things, just like with any new technology.
Let’s examine how a new hearing aid owner can avoid the 9 most common hearing aid mistakes.
1. Neglecting to comprehend hearing aid functionality
To put it simply, learn your hearing aid’s functions. It probably has exclusive features that drastically enhance the hearing experience in different settings like restaurants, movie theaters, or walking down the street.
It might be able to connect wirelessly to your smartphone, TV, or stereo. It might also have a setting that makes phone calls clearer.
If you use this advanced technology in such a basic way, without understanding these features, you can easily become stuck in a rut. Hearing aids these days can do more than make the sound louder.
In order to get the clearest and best sound quality, take some time to practice wearing the hearing aid in different settings. Ask a family member or friend to help you so you can check how well you can hear.
After a bit of practice, as with anything new, it will get easier. And your hearing experience will be much better than when you just turn the volume up and down.
2. Thinking that your hearing will automatically improve
Consistent with number one, many new hearing aid users think their hearing will be optimal as they walk out of the office. This assumption is normally not how it works. It normally takes up to a month for most new users to become comfortable with their new hearing aids. But don’t get frustrated. The time you take is well worth it according to those who are diligent.
Give yourself a few days, after you get home, to get used to your new situation. It won’t be that much different than breaking in new shoes. You might need to wear it in short intervals.
Start by just talking quietly with friends. Simple voices may not sound the same at first, and this can be disorienting. Ask your friends if you’re talking too loud and make the necessary adjustments.
Slowly increase the time you use your hearing aids and progressively add new places to visit.
You will have wonderful hearing experiences in front of you if you can only be patient with yourself.
3. Being untruthful about your level of hearing loss at your hearing exam
In order to be sure you get the correct hearing aid technology, it’s essential to answer any questions we may ask honestly.
Go back and get retested if you realize you may not have been entirely honest after you get your hearing aids. But it’s easier if you get it right the first time. The hearing aid type and style that will be best for you will be determined by the degree and kind of hearing loss you’re experiencing.
As an illustration, people with hearing loss in the high frequency range will require a specific type of hearing aid. Others are better for people with mid-frequency hearing loss and so on.
4. Not getting a hearing aid fitting
There are numerous requirements that your hearing aids need to simultaneously juggle: they need to be comfortable on or in your ears, they need to be easy to put in and take out, and they need to boost the sounds around you effectively. All three of those variables will be resolved during your fitting.
When you’re getting fitted, you may:
- Have your hearing tested to determine the power level of your hearing aid.
- Have your ears accurately measured or have molds made (or both).
5. Not tracking your results
It’s highly recommended that you take notes on how your hearing aid performs and feels after you get fitted. Make a note if you are having a hard time hearing in a big room. Make a note if one ear seems tighter than the other. Even make a note if everything feels great. With this knowledge, we can personalize the settings of your hearing aid so it works at peak efficiency and comfort.
6. Not anticipating how you’ll utilize your hearing aids
Some hearing aids are water-resistant. Others, however, can be damaged or even ruined by water. Some have advanced features you may be willing to pay more for because you take pleasure in certain activities.
We can give you some suggestions but you must decide for yourself. You won’t wear your hearing aid if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle and only you know what features you will use.
You and your hearing aid will be together for several years. So if you really need certain functions, you shouldn’t settle for less.
A few more things to contemplate
- You may care about whether people can see your hearing aid. Or perhaps you want to wear them with style.
- Speak with us about these things before your fitting so you can be sure you’re totally satisfied.
- Perhaps you want a high degree of automation. Or maybe you enjoy having more control over the volume. Is an extended battery life essential to you?
Many issues that come up with regards to fit, lifestyle, and how you use your hearing aids can be addressed during the fitting process. Also, you may be able to try out your hearing aids before you commit to a purchase. This test period will help you determine which brand will be best for your needs.
7. Not appropriately taking care of your hearing aids
Moisture is a significant problem for most hearing aids. If you live in a humid place, getting a dehumidifier may be worth the money. Keeping your hearing aid in the bathroom where people take baths or showers is a bad idea.
Always wash your hands before handling the hearing aid or batteries. Oils found naturally on your hand can effect how well the hearing aid works 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 implemented.
Taking simple steps like these will improve the life and function of your hearing aid.
8. Failing to have a set of spare batteries
New hearing aid users frequently learn this lesson at the worst times. Suddenly, when you’re watching your favorite show, your batteries quit just as you’re about to learn “who done it”.
Like many electronic devices, battery life fluctuates depending on your usage and the outside environment. So even if you just changed your batteries, keep a spare set with you. Don’t miss out on something special because of an unpredictable battery.
9. Neglecting your hearing exercises
You may assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first purchase them. But the regions of your brain responsible for interpreting sound are also affected by hearing loss not just your ears.
Once you get your hearing aids, you’ll be able to start the work of restoring some of those ear-to-brain pathways and connections. This may occur quite naturally for some people, particularly if the hearing loss was rather recent. But others will need a more focused strategy to rebuild their ability to hear. A couple of common strategies include the following.
Reading out loud
Reading out loud is one of the best ways to rebuild those connections between your ears and your brain. Even if you feel a little strange at first you should still practice like this. You’re doing the important work of connecting the words (which you read) to the sound (which you say). The more you establish those connections, the better your hearing (and your hearing aid) will work.
Audiobooks
If you don’t like the idea of reading something out loud personally, then you can always try audiobooks. You can purchase (or rent from the library) a physical copy of a book and the audiobook version together. Then, you read along with the book as the audiobook plays. This does the same work as reading something out loud, you hear words while reading them. And that helps the hearing-and-language part of your brain get used to hearing (and making sense of) speech again.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/
