You’ve bought a set of new hearing aids. Nice job taking the first step to improve your life. There is a lot to learn when you purchase new technology such as modern hearing aids, and that includes the things you shouldn’t do. The list with hearing aids is not long, but it’s an important one.
It’s not only about taking care of your hearing aids, either. The device will be less useful and your adjustment time will be slowed by the things you fail to do. Now learn from the mistakes other people in your shoes have made; contemplate these four things you shouldn’t do with those new hearing aids.
1. Straight Out of the Box Into Your Ear
You might be disregarding powerful features if you don’t take the time to understand the basics of how your hearing aid functions and discover the features that come with the brand. It’s likely that if you just turn your new device on and put them right in, they won’t work effectively for you. You might also miss out on the best features such as Bluetooth and noise filters.
You can practice adjusting the hearing aid and ascertain how to get the best sound quality by being patient and reading the user manual.
you’ll have a basic concept of what the hearing aids can accomplish when you purchase them. It will take a little more time but you need to learn how to operate them correctly.
2. Take Into Consideration The Adjustment Period
Anytime you get new glasses, your eyes need time to adapt to the difference in the lenses or the shape of the frame. The same is true for hearing aids. The sound quality is not just magically enjoyed by new hearing aid owners. That’s an unrealistic expectation.
If you’ve never worn hearing aids before, it’s a big difference and your ears will require some time to adapt. Adjusting to your new hearing aids as quickly as possible is all about consistency.
Once you’ve put them in leave them in. Frequently, new users feel an urge to keep removing them. That urge should be resisted. Ask yourself why you might be uncomfortable.
- Is the sound too loud? Maybe you need to turn the volume down.
- Are you overwhelmed by the background noise? Go to a quiet place for a few minutes when you first put them in each day. Sit and talk with a friend. Ask if you are talking too loud. In this way, you can balance the sound out by making adjustments.
- Take out the hearing aid when it gets uncomfortable for short periods. If the hearing aids just don’t really fit right, go back to the retailer and have them checked.
Giving up is the biggest mistake you can make. Your hearing aids will do you no good shoved in a drawer and forgotten about.
3. Get the Hearing Aid Fitted When You First Get it
There is a lot involved in finding the proper hearing aids, and it begins before you even start shopping. When you are at the audiologist, if you are not telling the truth about what you can and can’t hear at the hearing exam, that’s an issue. You may wind up with hearing aids that aren’t the correct ones for your level or type of hearing loss. For instance, some hearing aids by design amplify a high-frequency sound. If you have a hard time hearing mid or low tones, these are not the best hearing aids for you.
In many circumstances, hearing aids might not really fit your lifestyle. Perhaps you spend a lot of your day on the phone, so you will need to get hearing aids that have Bluetooth technology.
Take note of when you want your hearing aid to do something different or when they aren’t working properly when you are still in the trial period. You can go back and discuss those concerns with your hearing aid technician. You might need a different type of device or you could just need an adjustment.
Make sure to purchase your hearing aids from a seller that does fittings, too. If they’re too big for your ears they won’t function properly.
4. Sloppy Maintenance
Sometimes poor maintenance is simply a matter of not knowing when you should or shouldn’t do something or how to do it. Even if you’ve used hearing aids in the past you should take the time to understand how to care for your new device.
There are things you don’t want to do with your hearing aids in like using hair products when you have them in or taking them out without turning them off so read your documentation.
Don’t forget to study the maintenance guide and troubleshooting instructions.
Keeping it clean is a big part of Taking care of hearing aids, so make sure you understand all the hows and whys. The hearing aid is not the only thing that needs to be cleaned. Correctly cleaning your ears is important too.
It’s up to you to ensure you get the most from your new hearing aids. It’s a continuing process from shopping to use. Make an appointment with a hearing care professional to learn what kind of hearing aid will best fit your needs.