How to get use to hearing aids

I have had hearing aids for 9 years now starting at age 60. I believe that success comes from just wearing them all the time right from the start. Your brain has to adjust to the new sound, and before you know it, everything sounds like normal again. If you wear them only intermittently then your brain never gets a chance to become accustomed. With all the adjustments for volume, noise,etc there is no reason not to wear them all the time. My mother started with aids in her 70s and at first chewing made a noise that bothered her. So she took them out when eating for a while until she got used to it. Also, don't assume that the first audiologist's setting is going to be perfect. As you wear them daily, make notes about what you still struggle to hear, or what makes a shockingly loud noise that didn't used to bother you. The audiologist is able to make subtle changes in your program to make your hearing as normal as possible. I hope your new aids make a wonderful change for you like they did for me. Hearing the kitchen clock ticking again was an amazing discovery! Good luck with them.

Thank you everything you said made since! I get them next week and will follow your advice.

You've received excellent advice. One more thing: If you will be getting custom fit ear molds with your new hearing aids, they may feel tight at first. Those are created after an impression of your ear canal is taken and are a bit like dental inlays. Sometimes they need a small bit of filing down to fit perfectly. If that is an issue for you, your audiologist can take care of that.

Hearing aids can also be fit with domes that are not custom fit but are fit by size. There are different sizes that can be used. Regardless, it's important for a perfect fit.

Best advice is to wear them and get used to them in all situations. Good luck to you. It's wise to ask questions of other people who use hearing aids.

If your hearing aids don’t seem right don’t hesitate to go back to your dispenser for adjustments. I am on my 4th set and each time she made them better than the original settings. The in the ear would not stay in my ear when my ear swelled from allergies but the behind the ear with a small soft dome in the ear fit perfect. My current set she fitted me with the wrong size dome but one size difference made all the difference. Hopefully you are getting the type that you can adjust depending on what situation you are in. I adjust mine quite often depending on where I am. Best of luck. They are a wonderful thing.

I love my latest hearing aids. 17 years ago, I first had just one hearing aid (in the ear) because of otosclerosis in one ear. I just went with it and never thought much about it. Then after four years I had surgery so did not need it anymore. But my hearing declined with age, so the ENT told me it was time. I got my expensive hearing aids in Sept of 2021 and just started wearing them. The only problem is that one ear hurt because the dome was too big. I went down a size and now fine (my ear canals are not the same size). But I LOVE talking hands free on my cell phone and now take all calls on it. I can hear really well on my cell phone, and I can walk away from the cell phone. In fact, I just say "Hey Google" and tell it to call someone. I can also answer and hang up my calls because my hearing aids have the "tap" function (although that can be tricky and if I move my glasses it can hang up the call!).

Thank you for taking time; it is helpful!

You are welcome. I am willing to bet that the future of cell phones is in the ear.

I have my hearing aids; day 3 and the first two days were ok. However, I keep playing with them, adjusting the volume, then my left ear gets a itch like swimmers ear.

@gcranor

Are you wearing custom ear molds or domes. If they are custom are they hard or soft like silicone. Molds can sometime make your ear itchy. My ENT told me years ago to use mineral oil (drugstore sells big bottles and I bought small dropper bottles ) and to put a drop or two in the canal at night. It doesn’t build up and is absorbed into the skin like a moisturizer. Itchy ears could be dry also and this has been a big help to me. I wear high powered Phonaks with custom soft molds.
Give your self time when you are “playing “ with the controls to get use to that setting. It takes a while for the brain to adjust. Jot down notes each time you adjust the volume or use another program.
Would love to know what and how many programs you have, the type of molds…tubing or wires etc and the brand.

Good luck and go back again and again for adjustments if necessary’s.

FL Mary

I have a small wire type, with a cone in the ear. The piece behind the ear is pretty small. Resound Smart 3D is the type of hearing aid, I have four preset settings (All Around, Front Focus, Phone, and Favorite) each main selection has noise filter and Speech clarity. I also have a sound Enhancer which has five more settings (Bass, Middle, Treble, Noise reduction, and Wind noise reduction. So I have allot of settings and it will take awhile to figure it out.