Living with hearing aids

Getting used to your hearing aids

When you are first fitted with a hearing device, sounds may seem too loud. This is because you have adjusted to having less hearing over time. At first, noises might be amplified or distorted because your brain may need to re-learn sounds. Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. Most people take four to six months to get used to new hearing aids.

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Give it a little time

Hearing different sounds and sensations is a normal part of becoming accustomed to your new hearing ability, and there is nothing to worry about if you experience the following:

Hear echoes
Feel like your ears are blocked up
Notice your voice sounds a little louder
Feel tired due to the new sounds being pick up

Your brain can take some time to get used to these changes, but your ears will soon adjust to your new hearing aids - you just need to give them some time.

Keep using your hearing aids

The more you wear your hearing aids, the quicker you will get used to them. Some people can wear them all day immediately. Other people can only manage a few hours to start with, then slowly increase their wearing time each day.

Some people can wear their devices in quiet and noisy places from day one, while others need to practice with their hearing aids in quiet areas before attempting noisy places.

Tips for getting used to hearing aids

Everyone takes longer to get used to wearing hearing aids in noisy environments. Try the following to help you get used to them faster:

Try different situations where you feel comfortable wearing your hearing aids in both quiet and noisy places.
Wear them for as long as you can.
Increase wearing time every day.

Managing annoying sounds

Noise comes in various forms. To help reduce the annoyance, hearing aids may act to reduce noise like wind and background noise, sudden loud or low level noises. If you have any questions about your hearing aids, please don't hesitate to contact your local Bay Audiology clinic.

How to help retrain your hearing when using hearing aids for the first time?

After having hearing aids fitted for the first time, you may find that the sensations you experience are a little uncomfortable and overwhelming. If you’ve lived with hearing loss for any period of time, your brain will need a while to get used to processing the sounds that you are now hearing. To assist your brain in adjusting to the new stimuli that it’s exposed to, the following tips may be useful:

Wear your hearing aids for a few hours at a time

When you start wearing hearing aids, you may find them uncomfortable to wear. This is perfectly normal as your brain and ears will take time to adjust to the sounds you’re hearing and the sensations you’re feeling. To start, you may choose to wear your hearing aids for just a few hours at a time, giving your brain and ears plenty of time to rest between sessions. As you become more used to the devices, you can extend your wear time, eventually using them throughout the day.

Make use of quiet settings to start with

Using hearing aids for the first time can be quite overwhelming, especially since your brain starts to process sounds that it hasn’t heard in quite some time. Everyday sounds, such as ticking clocks, the hum of your computer and the indicators in your car, can seem overly loud to begin with. It’s best to start off in a quiet space as you start to rediscover and explore the sounds around you.

Practice conversing with others

If you’ve experienced hearing loss, it’s likely that you’ve had to focus on body language and other non-verbal cues to help you understand what others are saying during conversations. With the help of hearing aids, however, you should be able to more clearly understand other people’s speech. To practice your listening skills, meet up with a couple of family members or friends and spend some time testing out your hearing aids.

Watch TV and films with subtitles

Although you won’t need to rely on subtitles any longer to understand what’s going on in a TV show or film, reading and listening to the words spoken can make it easier for your brain to link the sounds you hear with their meanin

Read aloud

After being fitted with new hearing aids, you may find that your own voice sounds a little strange. To help you get used to the sound of your own voice, take some time to read books, magazines and other writing to yourself. Doing so will help you get used to the sound sooner.

Take time out to perform listening exercises

Practising conversation is important, but it’s also a good idea to take some time out to perform listening exercises that will help you identify the direction of sounds and the different types of sounds that objects, animals and devices make. Close your eyes and test yourself by trying to identify what’s creating noise and where it’s located.

Keep notes on your experiences

If it happens to be your first time using hearing aids, it can be a good idea to jot down some notes about your experiences as you get used to living with the devices. Taking note of unpleasant sounds, issues with volume and any physical discomfort you may encounter can be useful when attending adjustment appointments with your audiologist or hearing care professional. Some experiences and feelings may indicate that the current settings aren’t quite right for you, but the information you present may help them identify the source of your problems.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get used to wearing heari

Although the length of time required may vary from person to person, it typically takes several months to become fully accustomed to your new hearing aids. You’ll likely notice some immediate improvements to your hearing, but to enjoy the full benefits of your hearing aids, you’ll need to be patient. If you are finding it difficult to get used to your hearing aids, be sure to talk to your audiologist or hearing care professional as adjustments may be required.

Is it hard to get used to hearing aids?

Some people may find it hard to get used to wearing hearing aids. If you’ve never worn hearing aids before, they may feel uncomfortable and the quality of sound you are able to hear can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve experienced hearing difficulties for an extended period of time. However, with some perseverance and patience you’ll find that wearing your new hearing aids will soon become second nature.

Should you wear hearing aids all day?

Whether you’ve just been fitted with new hearing aids or are using a hearing aid for the first time, the sensations that you’ll experience may be overwhelming. Getting used to your hearing aids can take a while, so don’t be put off if you can only wear them for a few hours at a time. Slowly increase your total wear time over several weeks and you should be able to comfortably wear your hearing aids throughout the day before you know it.

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Exercising with hearing aids

Modern hearing aids are designed to suit your lifestyle, so you can keep on moving. However, there are steps you should take to ensure your hearing aids are not being exposed to excessive sweat or moisture while exercising which can damage the delicate internal electrical components.

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