Just as a baby is learning to process visual information when they first open their eyes, the newly hearing-impaired also need time to acclimate to sights and sounds that were once lost on them. The most important thing to remember is that this is all new, so one must give themselves time and space to get used to all these sounds. If one is new to hearing aids and finds themselves getting frustrated easily, there are a few things they can do to make adjusting easier.
Ask Questions
The most important thing when learning about how to wear and use hearing aids is to ask questions. Don’t be shy about getting answers from people trained in this area. Also, don’t be scared to ask for clarity or more information about anything that doesn’t make sense the first time—one has every right to know what they need to about their hearing.
Get Used to The New Hearing Aids Gradually
If one spends a lot of time in a quiet environment, it might be tempting to turn up the volume of the hearing aids all the way so that they can hear everything they’re missing. But this can cause problems down the road. Instead, start out at a low-to-moderate volume level and gradually increase it as needed over time. This will help the brain and ears adapt to sound coming through one’s devices more easily.
Try Using the Device in Familiar Places First
The brain also has a map of what every place one has ever been should sound like. So, if one tries out their hearing aids in a totally new place, they’ll probably be met with unfamiliar sounds that might be confusing or upsetting at first.
Have Realistic Expectations
Hearing aid wearers are not going to hear things the way they did when they were younger—and that’s okay. Remember that even with hearing aids, the sounds one hears may still be processed differently than they would be for someone without hearing loss.
Speak Up
If one has trouble understanding friends and family members with their hearing aids, ask them to slow down their speech or speak more loudly and clearly. In addition, try using visual cues whenever possible—such as pointing or writing things down. If it seems funny to others, explain that it’s only temporary while the ears adjust.