Did you know that out of people who would qualify for a hearing aid, only 1 in 5 use one? Whether your hearing loss stems from years of listening to loud music, operating noisy equipment without protection, health conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or because of genetics, a hearing aid might be the best solution for you.
When you visit a hearing aid specialist, you will first have to identify a baseline of hearing. Once that is determined, hearing can be effectively monitored, preventive measures can be implemented, and treatment can be prescribed sooner than later to improve outcomes.
Early detection and treatment of hearing loss helps you maintain the hearing that you have left and your active lifestyle. That is why OAT is committed to education and celebration no matter where you are on your hearing journey because we all start somewhere.
Here’s how to best utilize your hearing aids:
How Does a Hearing Aid Work?
Begin by Wearing Your Devices at Home
Connect With Your Doctor Regularly
Practice Makes Perfect
How Does a Hearing Aid Work?
The general basis of hearing aids is designed to improve your hearing by amplifying certain sounds. In contrast to older analog hearing aids, modern hearing aids convert sound into a digital signal, meaning they can process sounds with more precision. In addition to filtering out loud background noises, these hearing aid solutions allow you to selectively amplify desired sounds such as speech or music.
Within your device, the microphone should receive sound from your environment, the amplifier should then enhance the sound into your ear so that you can process the information. Most hearing aid solutions are battery powered, so you’ll need to have a distinct plan with your hearing aid specialist to ensure you know when to replace your battery system.
Begin by Wearing Your Devices at Home
When it comes to getting used to your hearing aids, remember it is okay to take breaks. Initially, you might want to wear your hearing aids at home or in a quiet environment. Practice by focusing on one-on-one conversations first.
While you become familiar with your hearing aid devices, try finding the sources of all the sounds in your environment, or listen to audiobooks or talk radio at home. Getting used to your own voice can also be achieved by reading aloud or talking to your pet. As you gain more comfortable with your hearing devices, try asking friends or family to join you in louder environments so you can practice hearing in these situations as well.
Connect With Your Doctor Regularly
Follow-up visits with your hearing care professional may be necessary to fine-tune the sounds you hear, adjust the fit of your devices in your ears, and discuss the situations that require the most attention. It is common for people to visit their hearing specialist about two weeks after their first fitting to fine-tune their devices and adjust volume settings.
Depending on the type of hearing aids you have, you may have earmolds that are custom-fitted, so they should be comfortable for you. However, hearing aids can occasionally cause tenderness at first. If you notice any pain, you should see your hearing aid specialist immediately.
Practice Makes Perfect
Hearing aids can be overwhelming if you haven't heard well in a few years. Your devices will likely flood your ears with sounds you haven’t noticed in a while or ever before. Remember, when first testing out your hearing aid devices, be sure to take breaks to avoid hearing overload.
Because your brain has forgotten how to sort out background noise and to prioritize certain sounds over others, adjusting to a new hearing aid can force you to relearn how to ignore background noise. With this in mind, breaks and practice become very important. Be sure to take it slow and let your brain adjust quietly to your hearing aid devices at first.
OAT, a Nashville Hearing Center
Even though you have hearing aids, you might find that in some situations you need more assistance. We offer a wide range of assistive listening technology to give you the best hearing experience including, amplified telephones, partner microphones, television enhancement devices, caption telephones, alerting devices and personal amplification systems.
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding which type of hearing care solutions will best suit your needs. At OAT, we want you to get the most out of your hearing aid experience. So, we created a guide to help you find the right solutions.
