Is There an Adjustment Period for Hearing Aids?

One of the most common solutions for hearing loss is to use hearing aids. They come in many different shapes and sizes, offer many features and can easily be obtained by speaking to your audiologist. Your audiologist will also assist you by conducting a hearing test that will examine your level of hearing, allowing them to fine-tune your hearing aids so that they can help with the frequencies you have trouble with.

One of the most common questions we get regarding hearing aids is whether they have an adjustment period. In this post, we’re going to be answering this question and looking at the different challenges that you may face if you’re new to using your hearing aids. Hopefully, this article will cover most of the concerns that you have regarding your hearing aids.

How long does it take to adjust to hearing aids?

This can vary depending on you. Some people that regularly use headphones may find it easy to adjust to hearing aids, but others might find it strange to hear clearly after a long time and can be emotionally affected if they have experienced hearing loss for a long time. Others find that, even if they are used to headphones or other devices on their ears, it can be challenging to get accustomed to them.

Others might find that it’s inconvenient to use hearing aids, especially if they use a lot of modern technology such as smartphones. Thankfully, many newer hearing aids have modern features that support the use of technologies such as Bluetooth. These will enable your hearing aids to be used wirelessly with your mobile device, giving you extra functionality and convenience.

A rough estimate for how long it takes to adjust to hearing aids is four months. It can take a week or two to get comfortable using them, and then a few more weeks to adjust completely so that they’re natural to use and don’t feel strange to put on. It’s a gradual process that can be sped up by simply using them on a regular basis, but it can be daunting so it’s recommended to be patient and take it easy when learning to use your hearing aids.

Being realistic when adjusting

Adjusting to hearing aids, especially if you’ve been experiencing hearing loss for a long time, can be difficult. It’s important to be realistic with your expectations, such as taking a break from work before using them in the workplace. You might also need to be careful when it comes to travelling, as hearing all the background noise might take some getting used to. As a rule of thumb, don’t expect to be off work for just a week and be able to return to your regular work duties at full efficiency.

Practicing with your hearing aids

When you first get your hearing aids, it’s important to consider practicing with them before you return to the workplace or do any serious work. For example, you’ll want to consider having conversations with friends and family members with them on to try and recognize different sounds and get used to the sensation of hearing again. You’ll also want to slowly re-educate your brain to filter out certain sounds that may startle you when you first use your hearing aids.

Acceptance is important

One of the challenges that people face when they have hearing loss is coping with the acceptance of hearing loss. A lot of people find it difficult to accept that they have hearing loss and will try to avoid using their hearing aids because of this. This is often the first hurdle to overcome and it’s vital that you speak to your audiologist if you have trouble coping with using hearing aids.

Speaking to a professional audiologist

One of the easiest ways to adjust to your hearing aids is to speak with your audiologist about using them. Whether you’re having trouble accepting your hearing loss or have questions about the different features on your hearing aids, your audiologist can provide you with a lot of useful advice and encouragement to help you adjust.

If you’re looking to speak to a professional audiologist or want more advice, consider getting in touch with Gavin Audiology and Hearing Aids at (914) 610-3440. You’ll be put through to a friendly advisor that will be more than happy to guide you further and connect you with a professional audiologist. You’ll be able to schedule appointments when you receive your hearing aids so that you can grow accustomed to using them and understand what to expect at follow-up appointments.