First of all, congratulations! This is an investment in your health which you won’t regret. Once you’re up and running, you’ll never look back, except to say, “Why didn’t I do this sooner!”. Like anything new, there will be an adjustment period where you’ll work with your hearing health professional to get things just right. We’re going to share some tips with you on how to sail as smoothly as possible through this transition stage, and emerge out the other side a new you!
Attitude is everything
Like learning any new skill, there will be moments or days where you might feel frustrated or even, demotivated. But, it’s all part of the process. Your ears and brain need to learn to work together again, as they were missing the sound stimulation while your hearing loss was untreated. Things will also likely sound louder than you’re used to, this is because you may not have been hearing at normal levels for quite some time. You will get used to this, trust us! Be kind to yourself – patience and a positive attitude is how you need to treat yourself right now. Think about how you might treat a friend going through the same situation, and apply these kind words to yourself!
On this note though, setting realistic expectations will help you maintain that positivity and forward momentum. Hearing aids are amazing creations, but they’re still not a cure for hearing loss. Depending on the severity of your hearing loss, you still might need to use complementary strategies along with your new hearing aids. These might include using visual cues or even simple things like sitting with your back to a wall in a café to eliminate noise behind you.
What you put in is what you get out
This means that the success you’ll have with your new hearing aids is equal to the effort you put in. Your hearing health professional can give you advice to make the most of these wonderful pieces of technology. He or she will be able to direct you to activities and exercises you can do to help your adjustment. There are even some fun online games which clinicians have specially developed for this purpose. After all, we don’t think learning should feel like a chore.
Practice exercises can help with some of the trickier aspects of hearing aid adjustment, like learning to pick out speech in noisy environments. This will help you integrate social or leisure events like heading out to busy cafes or restaurants, back into your life effectively.
Make them part of your daily routine
One of the secrets to adjusting to your new hearing aids is to wear them! We know, it sounds a bit obvious, but you really do need to wear them as much as possible to allow your ears and brain to work together effectively again. Of course, you’re able to remove them at bedtime!
Hearing aids do require a little bit of TLC to keep them in good shape, and protect your investment. Learn about the care and maintenance of your hearing aids from your hearing health professional, and make sure you make this part of your nightly or morning routine.
Check out our use and care page for more advice on looking after your hearing aids, or don’t hesitate to reach out to your hearing professional if you have any questions or concerns.