6 Things You Should Expect When Receiving Your Hearing Aids!
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If you’re planning to receive hearing aids in the future, there’s a chance that you’re not fully aware of how they work. Generally, there’s no need to learn about them unless you’re experiencing hearing loss for yourself, and your hearing health professional will fill you in on the essentials.
The existing ideas that you might have about hearing aids might differ from how they actually are, which tends to put a lot of people off of receiving that kind of treatment. After all, if you have the idea that they’re going to be inconvenient to wear, why bother? Well, you might be surprised as to how much hearing aids could improve your life.
You’ll hear new sounds.
If you’ve been experiencing hearing loss for quite a long time, you might not have noticed the quieter sounds that you no longer hear. Things like clocks ticking, cars outside, people speaking in the distance. While these might not necessarily be important, you might be surprised when you receive your hearing aids at all of the new things you can suddenly hear.
With that said, it might take you some time to get used to these new noises. Your ears will feel more sensitive than usual, and they might be distracting. Some might even describe this experience as uncomfortable, because you’ve gone so long without hearing all of these subtle noises, and they haven’t stuck out to you.
They may be uncomfortable at first.
Something that’s important to consider when you first receive your hearing aids is that while they might fit properly, they’re not going to be completely comfortable to wear at first. It can take you some time to adjust to, and if you’re feeling a little discomfort from wearing them – it will go away once you’ve had them for a few months.
Some might take this to mean that their hearing aids don’t fit them properly, but the issue is your ears aren’t used to this new object, and need some time to adjust – especially when it comes to daily use. The amount of time it takes can depend on the style of hearing aid you get, which will vary from person to person.
You need to maintain them.
Your hearing aids are made for daily use, but they’re not indestructible. In fact, they’re quite fragile, and it’s important that you’re properly taking care of them. Aside from the daily gentle cleaning that you should do, which involves simply brushing and wiping off any wax or debris that has gotten stuck to them throughout the day – you need to take them to your hearing healthcare professional around twice a year.
Caring for your hearing aids isn’t as much of a hassle as it might sound and will only take a few moments. Once you get into the routine of it, it becomes second nature, and you won’t even think about it going forward.
Using the phone is possible again.
For those who have been experiencing hearing loss for some time without seeking treatment, using the phone might have been something to avoid. With conversations being difficult to hear, you might not have seen yourself ever going back to using your phone again. You’ll be glad to know that you’ll gain control over your phone again, with some hearing aid models having Bluetooth capabilities, meaning you can correct them straight to your mobile device.
Bluetooth capabilities don’t just mean that you can use your phone easier, but a lot of other smart devices offer Bluetooth connectivity, such as your TV, or your computers and tablets.
Conversations become easier.
Many individuals who are unknowingly experiencing hearing loss might find themselves shying away from conversations. When you’re subconsciously having to try harder to listen to what others are saying, it can be tiring, and without realizing it conversations might seem less appealing to you. With hearing aids, you can remove these issues from the equation. It’s much easier to listen to the person you’re speaking to, and you can adjust the volume as you see fit while you listen.
It’s not the perfect fix.
While hearing aids can provide a lot of help to your daily life, they’re not going to make your hearing perfect. There are a few situations where they’re not completely ideal, such as being in busy or loud environments, which can make it difficult to single out specific noises.
It’s important to remember that hearing loss is something that can affect anyone at any age, and you need to be sure that you’re protecting your own hearing, and your kids’ hearing, and taking your hearing health seriously.
*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.
