You’ve bought a pair of new hearing aids. Well done, it’s a good start to bettering the quality of your life. There are things you should learn to do and not to do with newer technology such as modern hearing aids. It’s not a huge list when it comes to hearing aids, but it is a significant one.
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 shoes have made mistakes that you can learn from. These four things that you shouldn’t do need to be taken into consideration.
1. Straight Out of the Box Into Your Ear
Without spending some time to learn the basics of how your hearing aids work and checking out the features that come with the brand you purchased you may be disregarding powerful features. If you just turn on your hearing aids and start wearing them, it’s likely they won’t work efficiently. You may also miss out on the best features like Bluetooth or noise filters.
On the other hand, if you simply slow it down a bit and read the included documentation, you can determine how to get the cleanest sound quality and practice the various adjustments that maximize the hearing aid’s function.
you will have a basic idea of what your hearing aids can do when you pick them. Now you need to learn how to use them which takes a little patients.
2. Take Into Consideration The Adjustment Period
Your eyes need to adjust to the shape of the frame and the difference in lenses when you get a new pair of glasses. This also goes when it comes to hearing aids. Some new hearing aid owners think they will instantly enjoy this fabulous new sound quality. That’s an unrealistic expectation.
Your ears will need a couple days to adjust to what is a significant change, particularly if you haven’t worn hearing aids in the past. Consistency is the secret to adapting quickly to new hearing aids.
Leave them in place once you’ve put them in. Usually, new users feel an urge to keep taking them out. That urge should be resisted. If you are not comfortable, ask yourself why.
- Does the background noise seem overwhelming? Every day when you first put them in you should go to a quiet place for a few minutes. Sit down with a friend and talk. Ask if you are talking too loud. This will help you make adjustments to balance out the sound.
- Take out the hearing aid if it gets uncomfortable for short intervals. If the hearing aids just don’t seem to fit right, go back to the retailer and have them inspected.
- Is the noise too loud? Maybe you need to turn down the volume.
Giving up is the biggest mistake you can make. If you stuff your hearing aids in a drawer and forget about them, they won’t do you any good.
3. When You First Get Your Hearing Aid, Have it Fitted
Getting the right hearing aids begins before you start actually shopping and there is a lot to it. When you are at the audiologist, if you are not honest about what you can and what you can’t hear during the hearing exam, that’s an issue. Hearing aids that aren’t right for your type or level of hearing loss can be the result. Some hearing aids amplify a high-frequency sound by design for example. If your hearing loss interferes with your ability to hear mid-range or low sounds, the hearing aids won’t work correctly for you.
Your lifestyle, in certain cases may not seem well compatible with hearing aids. Perhaps you spend two-thirds of your day on the phone, so you will need hearing aids that have Bluetooth technology.
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 function right. You can go back to the hearing care technician and talk about those problems. An adjustment may be needed or you may need a different device.
When you get your hearing aids be certain to find a seller that does free fittings. They can’t be too big for your ears or they won’t function right.
4. Careless Maintenance
Understanding when and how to Take care of your hearing aids are the keys to success. Take the time to figure out how to take care of your hearing aids even if this isn’t your first pair.
After you get your hearing aids, Take a close look at at the warning signs listed in the documentation such as using hair products with your hearing aids in or not turning them off when you remove it.
Don’t forget to read the maintenance guide and troubleshooting instructions.
A big part of taking care of hearing aids is cleaning so be sure to know how to do it. The hearing aid is not the only thing that needs to be cleaned. Find out what the maker advises for cleaning your ears, too.
You have to take the initiative if you want to get the most out of your hearing aids. It’s an ongoing process from shopping to use. Schedule an exam with a hearing professional to learn what kind of hearing aid will work best for you.