So you finally went out and purchased a new set of hearing aids. Taking the first step to enhance your Quality of life is an awesome accomplishment. Modern hearing aids are newer technology and there are things you should learn to do and things that you should learn not to do. The list with hearing aids is not long, but it’s a significant one.
Caring for your hearing isn’t the only consideration. Your adjustment time will be delayed by the things you don’t do and your device will be less effective. It’s time to learn from the mistakes other people in your shoes have made; think about these four things you shouldn’t do with those new hearing aids.
1. Putting in Your Hearing Aids Right After You Buy Them
You might be ignoring powerful features if you don’t take some time to understand the basics of how your hearing aid functions and discover the features that come with the brand. If you simply turn on your hearing aids and start wearing them, more than likely they won’t work effectively. Bluetooth and noise filters are a few of the best features that you may also overlook.
You can work on adjusting the hearing aid and determine how to obtain the best sound quality by being patient and reading the user manual.
When you pick your hearing aids you will have a general understanding of what they can do. Now, spend some time learning how to use them.
2. Underestimate the Adjustment Factor
Every time you get a new pair of glasses, your eyes need time to adjust to the difference in the lenses or the shape of the frame. This also goes for hearing aids. High quality sound in a new hearing aid does not happen by magic. That’s an unrealistic expectation.
If you’ve never worn hearing aids before, it’s a big difference and your ears will require some time to adapt. Consistency is the secret to adapting quickly to new hearing aids.
Put them in your ear and don’t keep taking them out. At first, you might have to fight the urge to take them out every few minutes. If you are not comfortable, ask yourself why.
- Is the noise too loud? Maybe you should turn down the volume.
- If it feels uncomfortable, take the hearing aid out for short intervals until you get used to it. Go back to the seller and have your hearing aids inspected if they don’t really fit properly..
- Does the background noise seem overwhelming? Spend a few minutes in a quiet place each day when you first put them in. Sit with a friend and talk. Ask them if you are talking too loud. This will help you make adjustments to balance out the sound.
The worst mistake you can make is to give up. If you stuff your hearing aids in a drawer and forget about them, they won’t do you any good.
3. Neglect Getting a Proper Fitting Upfront
Finding the right hearing aids begins before you start actually shopping and there is a lot to it. While at your hearing test at the audiologist, it’s important to tell the truth about what you can and can’t hear. Hearing aids that aren’t right for your type or level of hearing loss can be the result. Some hearing aids pick up a high-frequency sound by design for instance. If your hearing loss interferes with your ability to hear mid-range or low tones, the hearing aids won’t work correctly for you.
In many cases, hearing aids may not really fit your lifestyle. Maybe you spend a lot of your day talking on the phone, so you will want hearing aids that have Bluetooth technology.
While you are still in the trial period for your new hearing aids, write down the times where you wanted your hearing aids to do something different or when it seemed like they didn’t work right. Your hearing aid technician can discuss that with you if you bring them back. An adjustment may be required or you may possibly need a different device.
Most retailers do free fittings so makes certain to find one of them when you purchase your hearing aids. They won’t work right if they are too big for your ears.
4. Sloppy Maintenance
Successful maintenance of your hearing aids starts with knowing how and when to do it. Take the time to learn how to care for your new device even if you’ve had hearing aids in the past.
After you buy your hearing aids, look closely at the warning signs listed in the user manual like using hair products with your hearing aids in or not turning them off when you take it out.
Additionally, read the troubleshooting instructions and the maintenance guide.
Understand exactly how to clean your hearing aids as that’s a big part of good maintenance. The hearing aid is not the only thing that needs to be cleaned. Correctly cleaning your ears is crucial too.
It’s up to you to make sure you get the most from your new hearing aids. It’s an ongoing process from shopping to use. Schedule an exam with a hearing professional to learn what kind of hearing aid will work best for you.