Getting Used to Hearing Aids: What to Expect and How to Succeed
Hearing Aids Take Time
Hearing aids are small, programmable devices worn in or behind the ear that amplify sound to compensate for hearing loss. They can't restore normal hearing, but they help provide useful sound information for the brain to work with.
If you've had hearing loss for some time, possibly years, the auditory centres of your brain have been receiving less stimulation. Suddenly switching that stimulation back on can feel strange or uncomfortable at first. The good news is that the brain is remarkably adaptable. This adjustment process is called acclimatisation, and it typically takes between 2 weeks up to 6 months. Wearing your hearing aids every waking hour, every day, helps it happen faster.
What to Expect in the Early Days
Everything will seem louder. Your brain has grown used to softer, less clear sound, so the flood of newly audible information can be overwhelming. Think of squinting when you switch on a bright light first thing in the morning, until your eyes adjust.
Some sounds may be irritating. This is especially common with high-frequency hearing loss. New wearers are often surprised by the amount of noise from things such as water running from a tap, car engines, clanging cutlery and scrunched paper; particularly if those sounds contain pitch frequencies that you are not used to hearing.
Your own voice will sound different. Many people notice an echo, or find their voice nasally, harsh or boomy. This settles as your brain re-learns what your voice really sounds like without a hearing loss.
Tips for a Smoother Adjustment
Be patient and consistent: Wear your hearing aids daily in a variety of environments. Start somewhere quiet, like home, then after a few days, build up to shopping centres, cafes and larger groups.
Take notes: Jot down anything that could be improved, whether it's sound quality, adjustments needed or situations you still find difficult. Your audiologist can use this feedback at your follow-up appointment and can fine-tune the hearing aids to make them more comfortable.
Keep expectations realistic: Hearing aids amplify sound but don't restore "perfect" hearing. Use the hearing aids in combination with strategies to help you communicate. Helpful communication strategies include lip-reading, sitting close to the speaker and facing them, and reducing background noise where possible all help. In noisy places, position yourself so the noise is behind you.
What to Expect Long-Term
With persistence, hearing aids should become a natural, comfortable part of everyday life. You should find speech clearer and reconnect with sounds you may have been missing, like the phone or doorbell. Some modern devices also reduce background chatter and wind noise, though they can't eliminate all competing noise, so a busy restaurant may still be tricky.
Sound should always be comfortable. If the amplified sound isn't comfortable after the adjustment period, your audiologist can fine-tune your settings.
Importantly, hearing aids will not make your hearing worse. Soft sounds may seem harder to hear when you take them off, because your brain has adjusted to the louder volume. Most hearing losses are progressive, but this isn't caused by hearing aids, which are programmed with a limited output. If your hearing changes, your audiologist can adjust the amplification.
Try Not to Make This Mistake!
I see many people fitted with hearing aids who feel they hear "too much" on day one: their own footsteps, the car indicator, leaves rustling in the trees. It's easy to forget these are normal sounds that everyone hears. Some people take the hearing aids out and "save them" for a challenging situation such as a restaurant meal or a party. Unfortunately, that's the hardest place to start. The brain hasn't had time to adapt, so the experience is overwhelming, and the hearing aids end up in a drawer.
If this sounds familiar, it may be time to try again, armed with a better understanding of the acclimatisation process that needs to take place. If you can persist through slightly more challenging initial days, you are likely to have a much higher chance of success with experiencing the benefits of hearing aids.
Adjusting to hearing aids takes patience, but the payoff is well worth it.