Tips for Getting used to Your New Hearing Aids

1. Tips for getting used to your new hearing aids Hearing aids make a world of difference. But getting used to the new hearing aids can be a difficult task for many first time users. It is important to learn how the aid works, how to handle the stimuli, and the new sounds and noises that can be confusing sometimes. This adjustment period of the brain, aids, and the other sensory organs can be a smooth experience if you know the better practices. What is the role of the ENT specialist? Your ENT doctor plays a significant role in finding whether the aid is working fine or any changes needed. Starting from teaching you how to use, put them on, check whether they sit in, take them out, how to clean them, and maintain for a long time, your doctor explains how long you should use it in a day, what should be done if you are feeling any discomfort, and when to seek medical help again. Get your doubts cleared before you start using the aids on your own or for your children. In addition to your doctor’s guided recommendations, here are a few general tips that you can rely on for better use of the hearing aids. Stay with us till the end to find more. First things first! Before getting into the hearing aid usage tips, have a look at the changes that you might observe in the initial days.

2.  Your voice might sound funny - For many people the biggest change they experience would be the tone of their voice. Many say their own voice sounds funny or unfamiliar which is totally normal.  The sounds of your body - Starting from chewing food to drinking, the person might experience unfamiliarity to which he or she might get adjusted later.  Loud noises - The sounds around you might be louder than anticipated and the brain might take some time to get used to that. If you are living in a city, your brain takes time to adjust to the noise-pollution. Once you are familiar with these noticeable sounds, here are a few tips to use the hearing aids for all age groups.  Start from low-noise environments - It is important to start wearing the aids in a low-noise environment such as a home. When your kid is using the aid, reduce the volume of TV or do not use any noisy equipment such as mixer grinders (at least for the initial days). Also, try to have a conversation with your child using appropriate hand gestures.  Increase the usage gradually - It is not recommendable to use hearing aids all the time in initial days. Wear them for a few hours first and increase the time the next day or week. And, gradually increase the time of use. Also, give breaks between to help your brain adjust to the new sounds better.  Work on sound sources - Take it up as a homework sort of thing. When you hear a sound for the first time, ask your child what is the source of the sound. Apart from having one-on-one conversations, listening to the surroundings, and audiobooks or children podcasts can be helpful.  Address the frustration - Hearing aids for children can be challenging for parents especially if you are living in a noisy environment. Your child might feel frustrated even for the buzzing sound coming out of the refrigerator or the air conditioner. This is because the brain is still sensitive about sound and takes time to adjust the background noises. What is expected from the parents? There are plenty of ways you can help your child overcome hearing loss with the use of hearing aids. Be patient when you are communicating with your child. Help your child practice the right way, monitor their progress, correct the words if they are pronouncing them wrongly but only do it in the later stages of the treatment. Children who are wearing the aid for the first time are technically re-learning everything about sounds and communication. Anticipate the challenges such as frustration and

3. anger here and there for the first few days. If they are complaining of any pain or discomfort, reach out to your nearest ENT hospital for a better care.