It’s easy to think that the hard work is over once you pick up your hearing aids. However, it can take up to four weeks for your brain to adjust to the sounds that it’s now hearing.
It may be surprising that areas of the ear and brain can become inactive when you experience hearing loss. When this occurs, it can leave a person feeling overstimulated and stressed when exposed to certain sounds again. Plus, it can take time for your brain to become accustomed to the new way it perceives sound with your hearing aids.
Kevin Sharim and his team offer a 60-day free trial for hearing aids at Sharp Hearing Care Professionals. But that doesn’t mean we send you on your way without additional support. Our experienced audiologists offer personalized guidance about what to expect from your new hearing aids and free in-house service for the life of the device.
Are you getting hearing aids? These five steps can help you adapt and ensure you get the most out of them.
It’s essential to partner with an experienced audiologist when getting hearing aids.
These days, hearing aids come in a wide range of options, including a dizzying array of sizes, styles, and technological capabilities. Our team can help guide you through the process from start to finish so you can find the most effective solution based on your needs.
This personalized attention also ensures the perfect fit and function, with hands-on instruction to get the most out of your device. And, if you run into problems in the weeks, months, or even years to come, you can rely on us for help when you need it most.
What you hear while wearing hearing aids will sound different, including your own voice. That’s because sound gets captured, amplified, and delivered to your ear with these devices, instead of traveling through the air and into the ear like it used to.
Our team recommends wearing your hearing aids as much as possible during your waking hours. After all, the more you hear your environment, the quicker your brain can adapt to it.
Take some time to listen to sounds you may not have paid attention to in the past, like a dinging microwave or humming refrigerator. You can even spend a few moments each day reading aloud to yourself.
Helping your brain adjust to life with hearing aids isn’t as easy as just putting them in. However, regular practice can make the process easier.
One simple method involves tapping into your friends and loved ones for help. Ask them to slow down while speaking and face you so you receive visual cues to help your brain process the sounds it’s receiving.
Another tip: Turn on the closed captioning while watching television. Reading along with what you see can strengthen the hearing-sight connection even more.
Finally, don’t be afraid to test your new hearing aids out in group settings. These situations can seem especially overwhelming and frustrating in the beginning. However, the more practice your brain gets with familiar sounds inside your home, the better it can adapt to sounds away from it, including in social settings.
Your hearing aids may be there to improve the sounds you hear. However, that doesn’t mean you have to hear everything — or hear it at maximum volume.
Modern hearing aids often have sensors that can help reduce unwanted sounds, like rustling paper, clanking silverware, or even background noise at ballgames or festivals. And the devices shouldn’t whistle.
Our team can help you make the most of built-in features if your hearing aids have them. We can also address any issues that lead to unwanted whistling, an issue known as hearing aid feedback.
When a hearing aid fits correctly, it shouldn’t cause discomfort. However, a lot of things can impact its fit, including earwax buildup and weight loss or gain.
If you find your hearing aids uncomfortable, it’s time to see your audiologist. They can help determine if there’s an issue causing the discomfort or if a better unit could provide better results.
Do you need hearing aids? Our team can set you on the path to success at Sharp Hearing Care Professionals. Contact us to schedule a consultation in Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, or Tarzana, California, today.
