What Not To Do When Getting Hearing Aids

Congratulations on being ready to improve such an important part of your life, your hearing! This step will certainly improve your overall quality of life. There is always a learning curve with new technology, and this principle is no different in the world of hearing aids. Let’s learn from mistakes others in your shoes have made; consider these four things to NOT do with those new hearing aids.

1.           Buying hearing aids online with no professional help

There is a rare person with a flat mild hearing loss in which a linear programming out of the box might do okay. But for the majority of people, they examination shows that they have different amount of hearing loss at every frequency. To treat their hearing loss properly, they are going to need hearing aids that are programmed to all of the individual frequencies differently. This is the only way to avoid over amplification in some areas, and under amplification others. If you want to be truly happy in any given sound environment, you need something customized to you.

2.         Underestimate the Transition Period

Think about when you get a new pair of glasses, your eyes need time to adjust to the new prescription and the shape of the frames. The same concept applies to hearing aids. Sometimes people assume that they will instantly start enjoying better hearing and sound quality, but it simply does not work that way.

Your brain will need sometiome to adjust to what is a big change, especially if you’re new to hearing aids. Wearing them consistently and following the counseling of a professional is the best way of adjusting quickly and appropriately.

We are not just adjusting hearing aids to your clinical hearing, but also to your perception of hearing. This takes time and team work between your feedback and experiences in this noisy world, and your professional’s expertise to adjust the hearing aids accordingly.

There are solutions for every issue that users come across. The worst thing to do is to give up.

3.         Fail to have a Professional Fitting Appointment

Hearing aids are designed for certain degrees of hearing loss or certain frequencies of hearing loss, and if your hearing aids have not been programmed for you as an individual, you won’t experience the benefits of better hearing.

Lifestyle is another factor when it comes to a correct hearing aid recommendation. Maybe you’re on conference calls and need to be in a hearing aid that is Bluetooth compatible. Maybe you’re someone who needs hearing aids that will manage wind noise for being outdoors. All of these components come into play when we recommend a product.

In the beginning during the trial period, you need to keep notes on what you like and dislike about the hearing aids, that way these issues can be addressed at your follow up appointments. Sometimes it is resolved by a fine-tuning adjustment, and other times you need a different type of device. Whatever your hearing journey looks like, working with the appropriate provider will lead you to success.

4.        Messy Maintenance

For new and existing users alike, it’s important to take the time to learn how to maintain your hearing aids.

When you get your hearing aids, make sure to check the warning signs listed in the manuals; like using hair spray with your hearing aids in, or not showering with them.

Cleaning the hearing aids is pivotal to their performance, so make sure you’re keeping up with them. Similarly, make sure you’re staying on top of cleaning your ears at your provider’s office as well.