Congrats! You’ve just become the proud owner of hearing aids – a wonderful piece of modern technology. But new hearing aid users will wish somebody had informed them about certain things, as with any new technology.
Let’s look at nine common mistakes new hearing aid owners make and how you can avoid them.
1. Failing to comprehend hearing aid functionality
To put it bluntly, learn your hearing aid’s features. It most likely has unique features that significantly improve the hearing experience in different settings like restaurants, theaters, or walking down the street.
It might be able to sync wirelessly to your smartphone, TV, or stereo. It may also have a setting that makes phone conversations clearer.
If you use this advanced technology in such a rudimentary way, without learning about 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. Test out how well you hear by asking a friend or family member to assist you.
After a little practice, as with anything new, it will get easier. Just turning the volume up and down won’t even come close to providing the hearing experience that using these more advanced features will.
2. Expecting instant improvement in your hearing
It’s not unusual for a new hearing aid owner to think that their hearing will be perfect from day one. This assumption is usually not how it works. Some people say it takes a month or more before they’re entirely comfortable with their hearing aid. But stay positive. They also say it’s very worth it.
Give yourself a few days, after you get home, to get used to your new experience. It won’t be that much different than breaking in new shoes. You may need to wear it in short intervals.
Start in a quiet setting with a friend where you’re just talking. It can be somewhat disorienting at first because voices might sound different. Ask your friends if you’re speaking too loud and make the necessary adjustments.
Slowly begin to visit new places and use the hearing aid for more extended periods of time.
Be patient with yourself, and you’ll have lots of great hearing experiences to look forward to.
3. Not being truthful about your level of hearing loss during your hearing exam
Responding truthfully to the questions during your hearing test will assure you get fitted with the optimum hearing aid technology.
Go back and get another test if you realize you might not have been totally honest after you get your hearing aids. But it’s better 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 level and kind of hearing loss you have.
For instance, some hearing aids are better for people with hearing loss in the high-frequency range. 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 manage: They need to efficiently boost sound, they need to be simple to put in and take out, and they need to be comfortable in your ears. All three of those variables will be addressed during your fitting.
When you’re getting fitted, you may:
- Have your hearing tested to determine the power level of your hearing aid.
- Have molds of your ears made and measurements taken.
5. Not tracking your results
It’s important 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 large room. Make a note if one ear seems tighter than the other. Even note if everything feels right on. This can help us make custom, minute adjustments to help your hearing aids reach optimum comfort and effectiveness.
6. Not planning how you will use your hearing aid in advance
Water-resistant hearing aids are available. Others, however, can be damaged or even destroyed by water. Perhaps you take pleasure in certain activities and you are willing to pay extra for more sophisticated features.
You can ask our opinion but the choice is yours. You won’t use your hearing aid if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle and only you know what features you will utilize.
You’ll be wearing your hearing aid for a long time. So if you really need certain functions, you shouldn’t settle for less.
A few more things to think about
- How obvious your hearing aid is may be important to you. Or, you may want to make a bold statement.
- You may want something that is really automated. Or maybe you enjoy having more control over the volume. How much battery life will you require?
- To be very satisfied, discuss these preferences before your fitting.
Throughout the fitting process we can deal with many of the challenges with regards to lifestyle, fit, and how you use your hearing aids. Also, you may be able to demo out your hearing aids before you commit to a purchase. This test period will help you figure out which brand will be best for your needs.
7. Neglecting to take sufficient care of your hearing aid
Moisture is a serious issue for the majority of hearing aids. If you live in a humid place, acquiring a dehumidifier may be worth the investment. It’s not a good idea to keep your hearing aid in the bathroom where everyone showers.
Before you touch your hearing aid or its battery, be certain to wash your hands. The life of your hearing aid and the longevity of its battery can be impacted by the oils naturally present in your skin.
The hearing aid shouldn’t be allowed to accumulate earwax and skin cells. Instead, the manufacturer’s suggested cleaning procedures should be followed.
The life and function of your hearing aid will be improved by taking these basic steps.
8. Not having spare batteries
Frequently, it’s the worst time when new hearing aid owners learn this one. When you’re about to discover who did it at the critical moment of your favorite show, your batteries quit without warning.
Your battery life depends, like any electronic device, on the external environment and how you use it. So even if you just changed your batteries, keep a spare set with you. Don’t allow an unpredictable battery to cause you to miss out on something important.
9. Neglecting your hearing exercises
You may assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first get them. But the parts of your brain in charge of interpreting sound are also impacted by hearing loss not only your ears.
Once you’ve got your hearing aids, you’ll be able to begin the work of rebuilding some of those ear-to-brain pathways and links. For some individuals, this might happen quite naturally and this is particularly true if the hearing loss happened recently. But others will need a more focused strategy to restore their ability to hear. A couple of typical strategies include the following.
Reading out loud
One of the best ways you can restore those pathways between your ears and your brain is to spend some time reading out loud. It may feel a bit silly at first, but don’t let that stop you. You’re doing the essential work of connecting the words (which you read) to the sound (which you say). Your hearing will get better and better as you continue practicing.
Audiobooks
If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of reading something out loud yourself, then you can always try audiobooks. You can get a physical copy of the book and an audio copy. Then, you read along with the book as the audiobook plays. This does the same work as reading something out loud, you hear a word while you’re reading it. This will train the language parts of your brain to hear speech again.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/