How to Get The Most Out of Your Hearing Aids

Getting new hearing aids can be a little intimidating.  Although it would be nice if you could place them into your ear and hear perfectly, the truth is it can take time to get used to them. Your brain has been working to compensate for your hearing loss, and now, you need time to adjust to the new sounds and support provided by your hearing aids.

Hearing Aids are like a new pair of glasses or shoes. It takes a while to break them before you start feeling comfortable. With your hearing aid, you will hear sounds you haven’t heard in a while. You may find that your voice sounds funny, in general, it isn’t what you expect. This is a normal aspect of adjusting to wearing your new hearing aid.

Getting Used to your Hearing Aids

It’s important to wear your hearing aids as much as possible when you first get them. This will help you get into the habit of wearing them and help you feel comfortable with the new sounds you are experiencing. The best way to do this is to put your hearing aids in as soon as you wake up and wear them as long as you feel comfortable. Try to increase the time you wear them each day until you can wear them all day. If you get tired of wearing them, try to take small breaks before placing them back in your ears. 

However, if your hearing aids become too uncomfortable, or if you’re having difficulty adjusting to them, be sure to contact your audiologist or hearing care professional to make sure they have the proper fit and adjustment.

Getting the most out of your healing aids in social settings

You can get the most out of your hearing aids when visiting with your family and friends by sitting between 3-6 feet away from them. Be sure to make others aware that you are wearing hearing aids so they know to look at you and speak clearly.  When eating at a restaurant, be sure to ask to sit in a quieter space, so the background noise doesn’t affect your hearing. If you are in a group, kindly remind members it is easier to hear if only one person at a time is speaking. If necessary, have one person help paraphrase what is being said to make sure you understand. Don’t be afraid to ask others to repeat themselves. It may take time for everyone to adjust to your new hearing aids, but with a little patience and a little practice, you will enjoy a full and rich social life with your hearing aids. 

Caring for your Hearing Aids

Taking care of your hearing aids with a daily cleaning routine, proper storage, and regular charging will help your hearing aids last for a long time. Be sure to follow these recommendations to care for your hearing aids.

• Carefully read your operating and instruction manual carefully.
• Wipe your hearing aids carefully after removing them from your ears 
• Complete a daily inspection of your hearings to make sure they are in good working order. Look for cracks or unusual wear and tear.
• Remove your hearing aids before showering, bathing or swimming.
• Write down when your warranty expires and take your hearing aids in for an inspection before then.
• Discuss with your hearing special extended warranty and insurance options
• Store your batteries and hearing aids out of reach of young children and pets. The batteries are toxic.
• Handle your hearing aids with care over a surface that will protect them from breaking.
• If you have battery-operated hearing aids, keep the battery door open when not in use,
• Keep your rechargeable hearing ads in their portals when not in use.
• Keep spare batteries with you at all times- so you can replace them if necessary.
• Store your hearing aids in their case in a designated spot so you don’t forget where you put them.
• See your audiologist at least once for a hearing check-up and hearing aid inspections.

To ensure that your hearing aids work well and last, be aware of the following situations that may damage or destroy your hearing aids:

• Try not to expose your hearing aids to extreme temperatures. Exposure to excess heat or cold can cause both temporary and permanent damage.
• Keeping your hearing aids out of high-humidity areas like showers, steam rooms, and even snow and rain can cause problems for your hearing aids.
• Do not put your hearing aids in until after you have completed your morning routine. Cologne, hairspray, and cosmetics can clog the hearing port.
• Never use water or other liquid to clean your hearing aid.
• If you are having a problem with your hearing aid, don’t fix it yourself, take it to your audiologist.
• Only use the cleaning tools provided by your audiologist to clean your hearing aids.

If you are experiencing problems with your hearing aids, please contact El Dorado Hearing. Our audiologist will listen to your concerns to help you find a solution to your hearing aid problems.