Congrats! Modern hearing aids are an impressive piece of technology, and you’ve just become the proud owner of a shiny new pair. But, just like with any new device, there are things that hearing aid owners wish someone had told them.
Let’s examine how a new hearing aid user can eliminate the 9 most common hearing aid errors.
1. Failing to understand hearing aid functionality
To put it simply, learn your hearing aid’s features. It probably has exclusive features that significantly improve the hearing experience in different settings like restaurants, theaters, or walking down the street.
Your wireless devices, like smartphones and televisions can most likely connect wirelessly to your hearing aids. Additionally, it might have a specific setting that helps you hear on the phone.
If you fail to learn about these features, it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut by using your technologically-advanced hearing aid in a basic way. Modern hearing aids do more than simply raise the volume of outside sounds.
To get the clearest and best sound, take some time to practice wearing the hearing aid in different places. Ask a family member or friend to help you so you can test how well you can hear.
As with anything new, it will get easier after a little practice. And your hearing experience will be much better than when you simply turn the volume up and down.
2. Thinking that your hearing will instantly improve
Consistent with number one, many new hearing aid owners think their hearing will be optimal as they leave the office. This is an incorrect assumption. Some people say it takes a month or more before they are entirely comfortable with their hearing aid. But stay positive. The time you take is easily worth it according to those who are diligent.
After you get home, give yourself a couple of days to become accustomed to the new experience. It’s like breaking in a new pair of shoes. You may need to wear it in short intervals.
Start in a calm setting with a friend where you are just talking. It can be somewhat disorienting initially because people’s voices may not sound the same. Ask about your own voice volume and make corrections.
Slowly increase the time you wear your hearing aids and gradually add new places to visit.
You will have wonderful hearing experiences ahead of you if you can only be patient with yourself.
3. Not being honest about your degree of hearing loss during your hearing exam
In order to be certain you get the ideal hearing aid technology, it’s essential to answer any questions we may ask truthfully.
Go back and get retested if you realize you may not have been entirely honest after you get your hearing aids. But it’s easier if you get it right the first time. The level and kind of hearing loss will determine the hearing aid styles that will work best for you.
For example, certain hearing aids are better for people with hearing loss in the high-frequency range. People who have mid-range hearing loss will call for different technology and etc.
4. Failing to have your hearing aid fitted
Your hearing aids need to manage several requirements at once: They need to efficiently boost sound, they need to be easy 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.
During hearing aid fitting sessions, you may:
- Have your hearing tested to identify the power level of your hearing aid.
- Have your ears precisely measured or have molds made (or both).
5. Not tracking your results
After you’ve been fitted, it’s worthwhile to take notes on how your hearing aid performs and feels. If you have difficulty hearing in large rooms, make a note of that. If your right ear seems tighter than your left, make a note of that. If everything feels right, make a note. With this information, we can customize the settings of your hearing aid so it functions at peak effectiveness and comfort.
6. Not anticipating how you’ll use your hearing aids
Water-resistant hearing aids are available. However, water can significantly damage others. Perhaps you take pleasure in certain activities and you are willing to pay extra for more sophisticated features.
You might ask our opinion but the decision is yours. Only you know what advanced features you’ll actually use and that’s worth investing in because if the hearing aids don’t work with your lifestyle you won’t use them.
You’ll be using your hearing aid for a long time. So you don’t want to be disappointed by settling when you really would have benefited from a certain feature.
Some other things to consider
- How obvious your hearing aid is might be something you’re worried about. Or, you may want to make a bold statement.
- You might want something that is really automated. Or maybe you’re more of a do-it-yourself type of person. How much battery life will you need?
- Speak with us about these things before your fitting so you can make sure you’re totally satisfied.
Throughout the fitting process we can deal with many of the challenges regarding lifestyle, fit, and how you use your hearing aids. Also, you may be able to try out your hearing aids before you commit to a purchase. During this trial period, you’ll be able to get an idea of whether a specific brand of hearing aid would meet your needs.
7. Not correctly taking care of your hearing aids
Moisture is a serious problem for the majority of hearing aids. You may want to invest in a dehumidifier if you live in an overly humid location. It’s a bad idea to keep your hearing aid in the bathroom where everyone showers.
Consistently wash your hands before touching the hearing aid or batteries. Oils found naturally on your hand can impact how well the hearing aid works and the duration of the batteries.
The hearing aid shouldn’t be allowed to collect earwax and skin cells. Instead, clean it based on the manufacturer’s guidelines.
The life and function of your hearing aid will be increased by taking these simple steps.
8. Not getting spare batteries
Frequently, it’s the worst time when new hearing aid owners learn this one. When you’re about to learn who did it at the critical moment of your favorite show, your batteries die without warning.
Your battery life depends, like any electronic device, on the external environment and how you use it. So always keep a spare set of batteries handy, even if you just changed them. Don’t let an unpredictable battery cause you to miss out on something significant.
9. Not practicing your hearing exercises
You may assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first get them. But it’s not just your ears that are affected by hearing loss, it’s also the regions of your brain responsible for interpreting all those sounds.
Once you’ve got your hearing aids, you’ll be able to start the work of restoring some of those ear-to-brain pathways and links. For some individuals, this may happen rather naturally and this is especially true if the hearing loss happened recently. But for other people, an intentional strategy might be necessary to get your hearing back to normal again. A couple of common strategies include the following.
Reading out loud
Reading out loud is one of the easiest ways to restore those connections between your ears and your brain. It may feel a little silly at first, but don’t allow that to stop you. You’re practicing reconnecting the experience of saying words with the sounds they make. Your hearing will get better and better as you continue practicing.
Audiobooks
You can always use audiobooks if reading out loud isn’t appealing to you. 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 job as reading something out loud, you hear a word while you’re reading it. And that helps the hearing-and-language part of your brain get accustomed to hearing (and understanding) speech again.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/