Congrats! Modern hearing aids are an amazing piece of technology, and you’ve recently become the proud owner of a shiny new set. But, just like with any new device, there will be things that hearing aid owners wish somebody had informed them about.
Let’s examine how a new hearing aid owner can eliminate the 9 most common hearing aid errors.
1. Neglecting to comprehend hearing aid functionality.
Or, more specifically, understand how your hearing aid works. It likely has exclusive features that considerably improve the hearing experience in different settings such as restaurants, theaters, or walking down the street.
Your wireless devices, including smartphones and televisions can most likely sync wirelessly to your hearing aids. It might also have a setting that makes phone conversations clearer.
If you don’t learn about these functions, it’s so easy to get stuck in a rut by using your technologically-sophisticated hearing aid in a rudimentary way. Modern hearing aids do more than simply raise the volume of external sounds.
Practice using your hearing aid in different settings in order to learn how to get the clearest sound quality. Check out how well you hear by asking a friend or family member to help you.
After a little practice, as with anything new, it will get easier. Simply turning the volume up and down won’t even come close to giving you the hearing experience that using these more advanced features will.
2. Expecting instant improvement in your hearing
In line with number one, many new hearing aid users think their hearing will be perfect as they walk out of the office. This isn’t a correct assumption. Some people say it takes a month or more before they are completely comfortable with their hearing aid. But don’t get discouraged. They also say it’s really worth it.
After you get home, give yourself a couple of days to get used to the new situation. It’s like breaking in a new pair of shoes. Sometimes, you will need to go slow and use your new hearing aids a little at a time.
Begin by just quietly talking with friends. It can be a bit disorienting at first because people’s voices may sound different. Ask your friends if you’re speaking too loud and make the necessary adjustments.
Slowly begin to visit new places and use the hearing aid for longer periods of time.
Be patient with yourself, and you’ll have lots of wonderful hearing experiences to look forward to.
3. Not being honest about your level of hearing loss during your hearing appointment
In order to be certain you get the ideal hearing aid technology, it’s important to answer any questions we may ask truthfully.
If you already have your hearing aid and realize that maybe you weren’t as honest as you could have been, go back and ask to be retested. But it’s easier if you get it right the first time. The hearing aid type and style that will be ideal for you will be determined by the degree and kind of hearing loss you’re experiencing.
For instance, certain hearing aids are better for people with hearing loss in the high-frequency range. People who are dealing with mid-range hearing loss will need different technology and etc.
4. Failing to have your hearing aid fitted
There are several requirements that your hearing aids need to simultaneously manage: they need to be comfortable on or in your ears, they need to be easy to put in and take out, and they need to boost the sounds around you efficiently. All three of those variables will be resolved during your fitting.
During hearing aid fitting sessions, you might:
- 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
It’s important that you take notes on how your hearing aid performs and feels once you get fitted. Make a note if you are having difficulty hearing in a large room. Make a note if one ear feels tighter than the other. Even make a note if everything feels right on. This can help us make custom, minute adjustments to help your hearing aids achieve peak comfort and effectiveness.
6. Not thinking about how you will use your hearing aid in advance
Some hearing aids are water-resistant. However, water can significantly damage others. Some have state-of-the-art features you might be willing to pay more for because you enjoy certain activities.
We can give you some suggestions but you must choose for yourself. You won’t use your hearing aid if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle and only you know what features you will use.
You and your hearing aid will be together for a number of years. So if you really need certain functions, you shouldn’t settle for less.
Some other things to consider
- To be entirely satisfied, discuss these preferences before your fitting.
- You may want something that is extremely automated. Or perhaps you’re more of a do-it-yourself type of individual. Is an extended battery life essential to you?
- How noticeable your hearing aid is may be something you’re worried about. Or maybe you want to wear them with style.
Many issues that come up with regards to fit, lifestyle, and how you use your hearing aids can be resolved during the fitting process. Also, you may be able to demo out your hearing aids before you commit to a purchase. During this trial period, you’ll be able to get a sense of whether a specific brand of hearing aid would meet your needs.
7. Not properly caring for your hearing aids
Most hearing aids are really sensitive to moisture. If where you live is very humid, acquiring a dehumidifier may be worth the money. It’s not a good idea to keep your hearing aid in the bathroom where everyone showers.
Always wash your hands before handling the hearing aid or batteries. Oils encountered normally on your hand can impact how well the hearing aid works and the life of the batteries.
The hearing aid shouldn’t be allowed to collect earwax and skin cells. Instead, the manufacturer’s suggested cleaning procedures should be followed.
The life and function of your hearing aid will be increased by taking these basic steps.
8. Failing to keep a set of spare batteries
New hearing aid wearers frequently learn this concept at the worst times. All of a sudden, while you’re watching your favorite show, your batteries die just as you’re about to learn “who done it”.
Your battery life depends, like any electronic device, on the outside environment and how you use it. So even if you recently changed your batteries, keep an extra set with you. Don’t miss out on something important because of an unpredictable battery.
9. Neglecting your hearing exercises
You may assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first purchase them. But it’s not just your ears that are impacted 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 rebuilding some of those ear-to-brain pathways and links. This might take place quite naturally for some individuals, particularly if the hearing loss was somewhat recent. But for other people, an intentional strategy may be necessary to get your hearing firing on all cylinders again. The following are a couple of prevalent strategies.
Reading out loud
One of the most efficient ways you can restore those connections between your ears and your brain is to spend some time reading out loud. Even if you feel a little odd initially you should still practice like this. You’re doing the essential work of linking the words (which you read) to the sound (which you say). Your hearing will get better and better as you keep practicing.
Audiobooks
If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of reading something out loud yourself, then you can always try audiobooks. You can buy (or rent from the library) a physical copy of a book and the audiobook version together. Then, you read along with the book while the audiobook plays. This does the same work as reading something out loud, you hear words while reading them. This will teach the language parts of your brain to hear speech again.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/