Investing in your first pair of hearing aids can be a mix of expectancy and anxiety. Whether you’re anxious to enjoy discussions more clearly, reconnect with loved ones, or simply hear the world around you once more, it’s a big step toward greater hearing health. But similar to any new experience, it’s normal to have concerns, especially about how hearing aids will feel and how long it may take to adjust.
New users frequently have concerns about the experience. Will the hearing aid be cumbersome or unpleasant to use? Will day-to-day sounds feel too loud? Will it take long to get accustomed to them? These apprehensions are common, but with the correct support and a bit of patience, most individuals discover that hearing aids become a comfortable and essential part of day-to-day life.
Let’s explore what to expect during the adaptation period and how you can make the transition as hassle-free as possible.
What you can expect during the first period of adaptation
So, are hearing aids uncomfortable? At first, they can feel a little bit peculiar, particularly if you’ve never put anything in your ears regularly. Similar to adapting to a new set of glasses or adjusting to a watch, it requires a period for your mind and physique to become acquainted.
You will observe the most significant changes in two primary areas in the initial weeks of using the product.
Bodily feeling
You may encounter a feeling of discomfort or strangeness in your ear initially. It is standard and common for many experts in hearing health to recommend a gradual strategy to using the device, starting with a few hours daily and slowly extending the time.
Some slight inconvenience is tolerable, but pain is not okay. If you experience soreness or pain from your devices, reach out to your hearing care specialist without delay. They can adjust the fit or try out a different design better suited to your ear shape.
Perception of sound
Experiencing everyday sounds that were formerly unheard can be one of the most unexpected facets of adapting to a new environment.
Initially, every day sounds like the fridge’s gentle thrum, chirping birds, or the creak of your own footsteps can seem unusually loud. Accordingly, your brain is reacquainting itself with a broader spectrum of auditory signals.
While it may seem like a lot to process, your brain will progressively adapt to ignore unimportant noises in the background and concentrate on important things such as voices and music. This is just your auditory system “retraining” itself.
Tips to improve hearing aid comfort and performance
The good news is that there are several approaches to help you feel more comfortable and self-assured while adapting to your new hearing aids:
1. Start slowly
You don’t have to feel obligated to use your hearing aids all day immediately. Start out with committing one to four hours everyday, particularly in tranquil settings like your home.
As you become more familiar with the devices, you can incrementally expand your usage to a comfortable degree.
2. Practice makes perfect
To help your brain adapt, use your hearing aids while taking part in stimulating activities. Engaging in activities like reading along with audiobooks as you read or watching movies with subtitles can improve your ability to distinguish speech and improve your listening skills in an enjoyable way.
3. Stay in touch with your hearing specialist
Fit and performance go hand-in-hand. If something doesn’t feel right, whether it’s how the device fits in your ear or how the sound is being processed, don’t wait. Your audiologist can calibrate your hearing aids and offer recommendations for enhanced outcomes. In some cases, a custom-fit hearing aid might be the best option for your distinct ear shape and needs.
Discovering a new world of sound
You can expect a brief transition time as you get used to using your hearing aids. Through routine usage, diligent maintenance, and guidance from your audiologist, these devices will rapidly become an integral part of your daily life.
Instead of concentrating on the device, you will redirect your focus towards the pleasure of improved conversations, natural sounds, music, and regular social interaction.
The key is patience, practice, and staying proactive about your comfort. Before long, your hearing aids will not only improve how you hear, but also how you live.