Because people typically wait 7-10 years to treat hearing loss, they must get used to many new sounds while adjusting to new hearing aids. While rediscovering the previously missed sounds is exciting, it’s also normal to have concerns.
Today's hearing aids are more innovative and advanced, making life with hearing loss more comfortable and connected than ever.
Whether you feel insecure about wearing hearing aids or anxious about what to expect, we’ve put together what you need to know about getting used to your new hearing aids so you can experience all of their benefits. Hearing aids are crucial to your journey back to reconnection and good hearing health.
Because people typically wait 7-10 years to treat hearing loss, they must get used to many new sounds while adjusting to new hearing aids. While rediscovering the previously missed sounds is exciting, it’s also normal to have concerns.
Irritation
Sound problems
Headaches
Wrong fit
Getting used to them
Irritation
Sound problems
Headaches
Wrong fit
Getting used to them
1. Stick with it
Adjusting your hearing aids may not be easy at first, but the more you wear them, the easier it will get. Pretty soon, putting your hearing aids on in the morning will be as routine as your morning cup of coffee or tea.
2. Train your ears
Learning to hear again is like working a muscle̶̶. You won’t get stronger if you only work out occasionally. Consistency is key to successfully adjusting to your hearing aids.
3. Set goals
If you are struggling to adjust, start by wearing your hearing aids for several hours a day, slowly working up to 8 to 10 hours daily. The benefits of wearing hearing aids full-time are numerous.
Adjusting your hearing aids may not be easy at first, but the more you wear them, the easier it will get. Pretty soon, putting your hearing aids on in the morning will be as routine as your morning cup of coffee or tea.
Learning to hear again is like working a muscle̶̶. You won’t get stronger if you only work out occasionally. Consistency is key to successfully adjusting to your hearing aids.
If you are struggling to adjust, start by wearing your hearing aids for several hours a day, slowly working up to 8 to 10 hours daily. The benefits of wearing hearing aids full-time are numerous.
Stay positive. People determined to improve their hearing ability and stick with it are most likely to get the benefits. If your hearing aids are programmed correctly, you should be able to hear everyday sounds you may not have realized you were missing, like rain on the window.
“What’s it really like to start wearing hearing aids?”
Dr. Meyer's Answer:
Your provider will work with you to find the best solution for your needs, lifestyle and preferences. Thanks to technological advances, today’s hearing aids offer better sound quality, wireless connectivity, AI tracking and more.
However, before you can fully enjoy these advantages, you’ll probably go through an adjustment period. At first, you may not even notice a significant improvement in your hearing. Here’s why:
Hearing occurs in your brain, even though your ears collect the sounds around you. Over time, your brain has adapted to your hearing loss, and you may need time to adjust to improve your hearing ability.
Secondly, you may notice sounds you haven’t heard for a long time, such as your stomach rumbling or the hum of a refrigerator motor. Your own voice may sound too loud or unnatural, and you may have difficulty separating desirable sounds, such as speech in a conversation, from unwanted background noise. Rest assured, these issues will gradually fade away as your brain adapts to the hearing aids. With time, your hearing aids will become almost like natural extensions of your ears!
“I recently got hearing aids for the first time. I enjoy hearing all the sounds I was missing, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. Will it always be that way, or are there steps I can take to get used to my new hearing aids?”
Dr. Meyer's Answer:
Getting used to new hearing aids is a process. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to adjust to them. You may be tempted to stop wearing them or to wear them ‘only when you need them,’ but you should wear them full-time for many reasons.
Your brain needs constant sound stimulation to get used to your hearing aids. By wearing your hearing aids regularly, you get the opportunity to ‘train’ your brain with quiet sounds. When your ears and brain get used to hearing those familiar everyday sounds, they’ll be better equipped to handle more challenging listening situations like having a conversation at a busy restaurant.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the new sounds, remember that hearing loss typically comes on gradually; you’ve likely spent years adapting to not hearing well. It will take time to get used to hearing the full range of sounds again.
Once you’ve worn your hearing aids for several weeks, you’ll likely feel more acclimated to the sounds. But for now, let’s address a few worries you might have and what you can do about them.
Since you’re probably not used to hearing subtle background noise, it might take some time to reacquaint yourself with these types of sounds. For example, traffic outside your home, background conversations while talking with a friend, or even the sound of the air conditioning unit running can make hearing aids uncomfortable at first.
The good news is that this feeling is normal and won’t last forever. Adjusting to hearing aids is like coming out of a dark room into sunlight.
You’ll probably want to close your eyes or feel the need to squint at first, but soon enough, you’ll feel comfortable again. If you wear hearing aids consistently, you’ll gradually learn to pay attention to the most prominent sounds and naturally ignore the less important ones in your environment.
Hearing devices use directional microphones that automatically focus on the sounds in front of you to make this adjustment easier. Hearing aid features work together to make this possible. Digital noise reduction reduces background noise, directional microphones pick up sound coming from the speaker's direction, and amplification increases the loudness of the speaker relative to the surrounding noise.
Hearing aids are programmed to fit your individual pattern of hearing loss, making sounds just right for your ears. Hearing a noise louder than before might initially feel unfamiliar, overwhelming and even uncomfortable.
If certain sounds seem painfully loud, let your hearing care provider know. They can adjust your hearing aid to correct this issue. Slight tweaks are necessary to find the perfect balance between just right and too loud. The priority is to make sure you hear in a way that’s accurate and comfortable to compensate for your specific loss.
This is to be expected since your voice is one of the sounds being amplified by your new device. If your hearing aid model takes up a significant portion of the ear canal, the sound of your voice will be altered the same way it would be if you plugged your ears. This is called the “occlusion effect.” Though this can feel odd initially, getting used to hearing aids doesn’t have to take a long time; it often happens relatively quickly.
Most hearing aids have programming features that process your voice differently than other voices and sounds around you. The technology detects the distance between your ears and mouth. The hearing aid then recognizes that the source of your own voice is closer to the device while other sounds are further away, reducing the loudness of your voice and achieving a more natural listening experience.
If you need additional help getting used to the sound of your voice, try speaking or reading aloud to yourself in a quiet space. The more you can hear yourself talk while wearing your devices, the easier the adjustment will be. Ask your hearing care provider for additional hearing aid tips if the issue persists.
When choosing a hearing aid, you should discuss the life expectancy of each model because it may vary. Most modern, high-quality hearing aids last, on average, between three and five years. Remember that two people can buy the same hearing aids and have them last different amounts of time, depending on usage and maintenance.
To get the most out of your new hearing devices, properly care for them and see your hearing care professional for routine maintenance.
However, as with any device, issues can arise with hearing aids, and it can be frustrating when they aren't functioning as they should. Luckily, many common issues can be fixed by following these tips:
If you're having issues connecting your hearing aids to your smartphone or tablet, here are some quick tips:
If you are still experiencing difficulty with your hearing aids or Bluetooth connection, contact your hearing healthcare provider. For immediate assistance, reach out to your hearing aid manufacturer's customer support line:
Hearing aids improve your quality of life by connecting you to your favorite people and activities. For instance, you may experience:
Yes, you do. More time at home doesn’t mean less time or less opportunities to hear fully. Everyday sounds at home — birds chirping outside, laundry cycles, water boiling — can help boost your mood, improve your well-being and maintain the sound quality you initially became accustomed to while getting used to hearing aids.
Just like regular exercise is essential, wearing hearing aids daily helps “exercise” the ears. Hearing the sounds you love most—family and friends’ voices, rainfall and thunderstorms, music, TV shows, or movies—keeps you engaged with your environment and can improve life moments, big and small.
Wearing hearing aids is a good idea for safety’s sake. While some smoke and carbon monoxide detectors feature alarms that can be seen and heard, it’s important to stay alert for any emergency (think: a pet’s distress call, severe weather, or intruders).
If you’re selective about when to wear hearing aids, you’re putting your long-term hearing health and cognitive brain function at risk. Choosing to treat hearing loss only some of the time may result in a phenomenon called auditory deprivation. If the brain doesn’t receive auditory information or stimulation, speech recognition can decline faster than if signals were sent through a hearing aid.
If you’re still inclined to wear your hearing aids only occasionally, recent research has shown that wearing them full-time can actually help you live longer. Full-time hearing aid users had a lower mortality risk compared to non-regular hearing aid users.
Getting used to hearing aids takes some time, but the payoff and long-term benefits are worth any initial frustrations. Our hearing care specialists can coach you through any discomfort and make a hearing aid adjustment if needed.
Yes! Hearing aids can be worn in the airport and on the plane. They will not affect your ability to clear your ears while in the air and will make your air travel easier and more comfortable since you’ll hear more clearly throughout your trip. As you’re getting ready to fly, don’t forget to:
When hearing aids are turned up to their highest volume setting, all sounds might be louder than usual. Hearing aid squealing or crackling can be minimized by simply turning down the volume unless it needs to be amplified for a specific reason.
Wearing a hat or hugging someone may cause hearing aids to whistle or beep momentarily. This sound —hearing aid feedback—can also occur if your glasses rub on hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids have digital feedback suppression, so this unexpected sound should occur infrequently. If feedback occurs often, consult with your hearing care professional to determine what might be causing the issue.
Once you start wearing your hearing aids, the difference in sound will likely be significant and noticeable. For example, if you forget to put on your hearing aid when you start your day, you might notice that the sound of the coffee maker is softer than usual. This will signal that you aren’t wearing your hearing aid, reminding you to put it on.
Setting up a routine can also help you get in the habit of putting your hearing aid on in the morning and taking it off at night. Leave the case or storage unit somewhere where you will see it, whether next to your toothbrush (in a dry location), on your dresser or kitchen counter. Set a reminder alarm to ensure you wear your device consistently and remove it before bed.
Individuals with hearing loss sometimes tend to speak more loudly than others to hear themselves better. If you notice your voice seems louder with hearing aids, remember your device is simply amplifying how it sounds.
As you spend more time wearing hearing aids, understanding the appropriate volume level at which to speak will become more natural. You’ll also understand how to adjust hearing aid volume to match your voice and surroundings. Over time, you will start to feel more comfortable with this new volume and trust your instincts.
1. Start Your Hearing Journey: Take our online hearing assessment
2. How to Clean Hearing Aids at Home: Read our tips for optimal care
3. Why Treat Hearing Loss Early: Learn about the benefits of treatment
