3 tips on how to get the most out of your hearing aids - Hearing aid tips and tricks

A Hearing Aid Users Guide

Our top 3 tips on how to get the most out of your hearing aids

Hearing aid users feedback

Those with hearing loss who wear digital hearing aids feedback to our audiologists that they see a huge increase in their quality of life.  Hearing better enables them to get the most out of life - experiencing enhanced interactions with family and friends as well as more enjoyable social gatherings.

Where they struggled to hear in crowds and noisy environments - they now have a full soundscape abling them to engage in conversation more easily and with less effort and listening fatigue wherever they are.  Appreciating and 'getting excited' about social events instead of worrying whether or not they can follow the conversation.

A guided transition

Whether you're new to hearing aids or have upgraded your old ones it's important to know that not everyone's transition to wearing hearing aids is seamless or straightforward.  It can take some time to get used to wearing hearing aids and appreciating your new soundscape.  This is all completely normal and your audiologist will be there to support you every step of the way. 

Your audiologist will also schedule a follow-up appointment where you can take time to adjust and fine-tune your hearing aids based on your hearing experiences since you started wearing them.  Your audiologist will answer any questions and issues you may have and together you can find the best solution.

In this article, we discuss how to get the most out of your hearing aids with three useful tips from our experts - whether you are a first-time wearer or have upgraded your existing ones. 

How to get the most out of your hearing aids

3 Quick Tips for Getting Used to Hearing Aids

 1.  Wear Them!

It may sound obvious, but it is vital that you wear your hearing aids frequently to receive the full benefits they offer.  This can sometimes feel like a challenge if your hearing aids don't feel comfortable to wear right away.  At the start, you might be constantly aware that they are in your ears, but that feeling will go away in a few days.

Like with all new things, it takes time to adjust and add to your existing daily routine.  For instance, it is common for some people to forget to put in their devices at the beginning.  Some of our patients initially found it beneficial to set an alarm in the morning and night to remind them to put in and take out their hearing aids. 

Soon you'll develop your new natural soundscape and start to recognise and appreciate the simple things in your every day that you might have missed or not heard in a while - like running taps and those annoying creaky stairs!

The sounds you hear might be unnaturally loud at the beginning and this is simply due to the brain not being used to them.  This won't last for long, as your brain adjusts to the more focused and clear sounds you are now experiencing.

2.  It's good to talk

Speaking to people either on the phone or face-to-face will be extremely rewarding when you wear your hearing aids.  Speech and sound are clear, focused and easier to follow - something that you may not have experienced before or not at the level you have been used to in the past.

Get into the habit of starting conversations that you might have avoided before with your hearing loss and see how your confidence improves as you build stronger social connections with family and friends.  Having regular conversations with your family or friends is of great benefit, as they are the easiest to identify and you can acknowledge and get used to the higher level of focused hearing you now get with your devices.

Please remember, that when you are in loud or more challenging environments, don't be tempted to adjust the volume as your hearing aids should adjust automatically - there is no need for manual manipulation.  You can also damage your ears by doing this if the volume is manually turned up too loud.

 3.  Make a note

Taking note of your new hearing experiences whilst wearing your hearing aids can be a great tool to track your challenges, new impressions and also to see how far you've come.  More importantly, it is a physical report that will help guide your audiologist to make any adjustments needed.

These could be new sounds you've not experienced before, unpleasant hearing situations in various environments and maybe how comfortable your hearing aids are and so on.  The more sounds you are able to recognise and filter out and the more sounds you identify as bothersome - can ultimately help your audiologist make the right tweaks that will give you a more personalised sound.

Are you getting the most out of your hearing aids?

You may be looking for an audiologist local to you, thinking about upgrading your existing hearing aids or have some questions about this article, hearing loss or hearing healthcare - call us free on 0800 567 7621 we are here to support and advise you.

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