9 Errors Every New Hearing Aid Owner Makes

Hand written blue letters spelling the words common mistakes on a lined paper notebook

Congrats! You’ve just become the proud owner of hearing aids – a wonderful piece of modern tech. But, just like with any new device, there are things that hearing aid wearers wish someone had told them.

Let’s examine how a new hearing aid user can eliminate the 9 most common hearing aid mistakes.

1. Neglecting to understand hearing aid functionality

To put it simply, learn your hearing aid’s features. The hearing experience will be significantly improved if you know how to use advanced features for different environments like on the street, at the movies, or in a restaurant.

It may be able to connect wirelessly to your smartphone, TV, or stereo. It may also have a setting that makes phone conversations clearer.

If you don’t learn about these features, 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 increase the volume of outside sounds.

To get the clearest and best sound, take some time to practice using the hearing aid in different settings. Test out how well you hear by getting a friend or family member to help you.

Like anything new, it will get easier after a bit of practice. And your hearing experience will be much better than when you simply raise and lower the volume.

2. Expecting instant improvement in your hearing

It’s not uncommon for a new hearing aid users to think that their hearing will be optimal from the first day. This assumption is normally not how it works. It typically takes up to a month for most new users to become comfortable with their new hearing aids. But don’t get frustrated. The time you take is well worth it according to those who are diligent.

Give yourself a few days, after you get home, to get used to your new situation. It’s like breaking in a new pair of shoes. You might need to wear it in short intervals.

Start in a calm setting with a friend where you’re just talking. Familiar voices may not sound the same initially, and this can be disorienting. Ask about the volume of your own voice and make adjustments.

Slowly start to go to new places and wear 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 truthful about your degree of hearing loss during your hearing assessments

In order to be certain you get the correct hearing aid technology, it’s crucial to answer any questions we may ask honestly.

Go back and get retested if you realize you might not have been entirely honest after you get your hearing aids. But it’s better 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, some hearing aids are better for people with hearing loss in the high-frequency range. People who are dealing with mid-range hearing loss will call for different technology and etc.

4. Not getting a hearing aid fitting

Your hearing aids need to handle a few requirements at the same time: 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.

When you’re getting fitted, you may:

  • Have your hearing tested to identify the power level of your hearing aid.
  • Have molds of your ears made and measurements taken.

5. Not tracking your results

After you’ve been fitted, it’s important to take notes on how your hearing aid feels and performs. If you have difficulty hearing in big rooms, make a note of that. Make a note if one ear feels tighter than the other. Even note if everything feels great. This can help us make custom, minute changes to help your hearing aids reach peak comfort and effectiveness.

6. Not planning how you will use your hearing aid in advance

Some hearing aids are resistant to water. 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 recommendations but you must decide for yourself. You won’t wear 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 several years. So if you really need certain features, you don’t want to settle for less.

Some other things to consider

  • You may want something that is extremely automated. Or perhaps you like having more control over the volume. Is an extended battery life essential to you?
  • You may care about whether people can see your hearing aid. Or perhaps you want to wear them with style.
  • Speak with us about these things before your fitting so you can be certain you’re totally satisfied.

Many challenges that arise with regards to fit, lifestyle, and how you use your hearing aids can be resolved through the fitting process. What’s more, many hearing aid makers will let you demo the devices before deciding. During this trial period, you’ll be able to get a sense of whether a particular brand of hearing aid would meet your needs.

7. Not correctly maintaining your hearing aids

Most hearing aids are quite sensitive to moisture. If you live in a humid place, acquiring a dehumidifier may be worth the money. Keeping your hearing aid in the bathroom where people take baths or showers is a bad idea.

Always wash your hands before touching the hearing aid or batteries. Oils encountered normally on your hand can impact how well the hearing aid functions and the life of the batteries.

Don’t let earwax or skin cells accumulate on the hearing aid. Instead, the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedures should be followed.

Taking simple steps like these will improve the life and function of your hearing aid.

8. Failing to have a set of spare batteries

Frequently, it’s the worst time when new hearing aid users learn this one. When you’re about to find out who did it at the crucial moment of your favorite show, your batteries quit without warning.

Like many electronic devices, battery life varies depending on how you use it and the outside environment. So even if you recently replaced your batteries, keep a spare set with you. Don’t miss something special because of an unpredictable battery.

9. Neglecting your hearing exercises

You might assume that your hearing aids will do all of the work when you first purchase them. But the parts of your brain in charge of interpreting sound are also affected by hearing loss not just your ears.

You can start to work on rebuilding those ear-to-brain connections after you get your new hearing aids. For some individuals, this may happen quite naturally and this is especially true if the hearing loss happened recently. But others will need a more structured plan to restore their ability to hear. The following are a couple of prevalent strategies.

Reading out loud

One of the most efficient ways you can restore those pathways between your ears and your brain is to spend some time reading out loud. It might feel a little silly at first, but don’t allow that to stop you. You’re doing the important work of connecting the words (which you read) to the sound (which you say). Your hearing will get better and better as you continue practicing.

Audiobooks

You can always try audiobooks if reading out loud isn’t attractive to you. You can get a physical copy of the book and an audio copy. Then, you read along with the book as the audiobook plays. This does the same work as reading something out loud, you hear words while reading them. And that helps the hearing-and-language part of your brain get used to hearing (and making sense of) speech again.

Resources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10900/

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.