A hearing aid is a small electronic device with a microphone, amplifier and speaker that helps make sound louder. The microphone collects sounds from the environment, a computer chip analyzes them and adjusts them based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The computer then sends an enhanced signal to the speaker, which delivers the sounds to your ears. This makes speech easier to hear and understand, even in noisy environments like restaurants, schools, or airports.
When you first get a hearing aid, it can be frustrating at times. Your brain isn’t used to the sounds that it can hear, so it takes some time to acclimate. If you’re having trouble adjusting to your new hearing aids, follow these tips for getting used to using a hearing aid.
Stay In Quiet Places
If you’re getting used to using a new hearing aid, it can be helpful to stay in quiet places. These include coffee shops, libraries, and museums. Quiet parks are a great place to get away from the noise of civilization and immerse yourself in nature’s natural soundscapes. It’s been proven that spending time in quiet nature reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and repetitive thoughts. It also helps restore attention and promotes neurogenesis, a type of brain growth that makes us more creative and innovative.
Listen To Music
While you’re getting used to your hearing aids, it’s helpful to listen to music. This will help you become more familiar with the acoustic characteristics of speech and how to adjust your hearing aid to fit different musical styles. Many people also find it easier to talk to others when they’re listening to music. This can help you get a better understanding of how your new hearing aids work and make it easier to use them in noisy places, like restaurants and train stations.
Listen To TV
Watching TV is a popular activity for many people, but it can be difficult to hear when you have hearing loss. It’s natural to turn up the volume on your TV a little more when you have difficulty hearing, but this can actually damage your hearing. Instead, consider getting a TV streamer that allows you to listen to the audio coming from your TV through your hearing aids. These devices are compatible with a wide range of hearing aids and televisions, and they allow you to control the volume that comes into your hearing aids and what is sent from your TV into your ears separately.
Take A Quiet Walk
Taking a quiet walk outdoors can be a great way to get reacquainted with your new hearing aid. You can concentrate on a variety of sounds, including rustling leaves, birds singing and the splash of water from a stream. Getting used to your new device can be a slow process, so it’s a good idea to take it slowly and enjoy the ride. You can even practice your new hearing skills by taking a short stroll with your loved ones.
Talk to Your Audiologist
During the adjustment period, it’s normal for you to experience a bit of sound overload. This is because your ears are accustomed to suppressing background noises, like the rustling of leaves or the tapping of keys in an office. Your audiologist can help you adjust your hearing aids so that you can hear everything you need to hear in every situation. They’ll also give you follow-up appointments so they can check on your progress.