Wearing hearing aids is an important step towards improving your hearing and quality of life. However, it takes time to get used to hearing aids. They won’t work perfectly the minute you put them on. It is a gradual process that involves wearing your hearing aids frequently before you will get fully accustomed to them.

What should I expect?

Hearing aids will allow you to hear speech better, but you may feel overwhelmed by some sounds you haven’t heard for a long time. From traffic and mechanical noises, to air-conditioning systems, and even your own voice. Sounds may also register as unnatural and strange at first, while some sounds may even be bothersome. 

As you lose your hearing, the area of your brain that processes sound doesn’t receive enough stimulation. Without that stimulation, the brain begins to rewire itself and uses the area for other tasks. Once you start wearing hearing aids, your brain needs to rewire itself once more. It needs to accommodate all the sounds that you are hearing again. It needs to relearn which sounds to focus on and which sounds to filter through.

What can I do to get used to my hearing aids?

The most important thing to remember, is to be patient. With more time and experience, your brain will adjust. It will process wanted sounds better and minimize unwanted background noise. Over time, you will become so accustomed to your hearing aids that you may even forget that you are wearing them. 

9 Tips for getting used to hearing aids

We want the transition to wearing hearing aids to be as easy as possible. That’s why we’ve identified 9 things that you can do when you first start wearing them.

Wear them in comfortable environments

It can be overwhelming at first to wear them in places with a lot of background noise. Begin by wearing your hearing aids in a known, calm, and controlled environment, like your home. That way you can identify and listen to several known sounds that you may not have heard for a while. Listen out for boiling kettles or ticking clocks.

Sign up for Lexie Rewards

Lexie Rewards will guide and support you through the first 45 days with your new OTC hearing aids. The program will help you every step of the way. This makes the hearing aid adjustment period as short and easy as possible. You’ll also earn points towards future purchases when you wear your Lexie OTC hearing aids.

Gradually increase the length of time that you wear your hearing aid

Although it’s recommended that you wear hearing aids the whole day, you can wear them for a few hours a day to start. Then, slowly increase your wear time to get used to them. Re-training your brain to process sounds that you had been missing out on needs energy. So, it’s normal to feel strained and tired in the beginning.

Be consistent!

Your hearing aids should be worn every day. Don’t use them sporadically, or your brain won’t receive sufficient stimulation to adapt. You won’t benefit from your Lexie hearing aids the way that you should.

Adjust to the sound of your own voice

One of the most common complaints from first-time hearing aid users is that their voice sounds strange. Get used to the sound of your voice by reading loudly to yourself from time to time. Then you will feel more comfortable engaging in conversation with friends and family. Our hearing experts can also adjust your hearing aids if needed, but, you will still need time to adjust.

Practice in different environments

A trip to the grocery store or a busy restaurant is a good place to start. It may feel challenging with all the background noise at first. Soon enough, though, you won’t want to leave your house without your hearing aids.

Use active communication strategies

Use active communication strategies together with your hearing aids and get the most out of your conversations with family and friends.

• • When you communicate with others you rely on your hearing and vision. Look at the speaker’s face and make sure it is well-lit.
  • Only communicate with someone when they are in the same room as you. 
  • Reduce unnecessary background noise. This includes tv or radio when possible, especially if they don’t need to be on.
  • Don’t be shy to let others know how they can help when needed.

Keep a notebook of your experiences

Reference these notes when you speak to one of our hearing experts. Write down your positive and challenging experiences. Then, the hearing expert has the necessary information to make the necessary adjustments. so that you have a more comfortable listening experience.

Practice makes perfect

Engage in some aural rehabilitation activities when adjusting to your new hearing aids. These listening activities will help you better understand speech and conversation. There are useful free online training resources listed below:

• The Listening Room sponsored by Advanced Bionics 
• Angel Sound was developed by Tiger Speech Technology and distributed by Emily Shannon Fu Foundation
• Audio Concentration/Matching Game 

This infographic contains notes that are important to keep in mind when first wearing hearing aids. 

It’s important to note that it takes time to get used to hearing aids but by keeping these tips in mind a hearing aid wearer will quickly adapt.

Contact Lexie Hearing

Lexie hearing aids are a great option for getting high-quality treatment at an affordable price. Lexie hearing aids can be purchased online and are ready to go right out of the box—no need for a prescription or visit to the clinic. This added convenience doesn’t come with a higher price tag either, as Lexie hearing aids cost far less than the average traditional hearing aid.

Get your Lexie OTC hearing aids online today, or contact a Lexie Expert™ to learn more.