Getting used to your hearing aids
How long will it take for me to get used to my hearing aids?
If you’re considering getting hearing aids, you may well ask this question of any friends or relatives who already have them.
First and foremost, how long it takes to get used to hearing aids is individual and can take anything from 2 – 6 weeks, and sometimes longer. There are so many reasons for this, but there are some things you can do to make the process easier.
Acceptance of your hearing loss is really the first hurdle. As soon as you notice that you are missing some sounds, your brain’s ability to recognise those sounds again is already decreasing. The sooner you address your hearing loss, the easier it is to re-train your brain to recognise these sounds and improve your hearing.
Getting used to your hearing aids is really about re-training or re-calibrating your brain. The sooner you get hearing aids after noticing your hearing loss, the sooner your brain will get used to listening through the hearing aids. Also – the right hearing aid is a factor; aim to use a hearing aid with a more natural sound and greater sound quality so that it blends in. If you are unsure about which hearing aids are recommended – ask your audiologist.
Evidence suggests that the sooner you address your hearing difficulties, the less likely you are to suffer from emotional distress, depression and loneliness, which all make it harder to get used to your hearing aids.
As you get older, your risk of developing dementia increases 5 – fold even if you think you only have a slight hearing loss; this will obviously have a great impact on your ability to adapt to life with hearing aids.
Seeking help for hearing difficulties as soon as you notice them also reduces your risk of falls, as your brain can respond more easily to balance cues from your ears if they are straining to help you listen.
As digital technology advances and hearing aids get smaller; it is easier to learn how to insert your hearing aids and maintain them.
So, what is the best way to acclimatise to your hearing aids?
The aim is to be able to wear your hearing aids from when you get up to when you go to bed, and building up slowly from quiet to noisy situations will give you the best chance of taking weeks rather than several months to get used to your hearing aids.
The important thing is to take it at your own pace; don’t compare yourself to other people because everyone’s situation is different. If you need a break from listening, have a break and turn your hearing aids off for a little while.
If you need a break from having the hearing aids in your ears, do take them out for a bit. If you need a few days off because you’re just not feeling well; have a few days off but put your hearing aids back in as soon as you feel up to it.
Contact your audiologist if you have any difficulties or questions, however small; they are there to support you and there are lots of adjustments they can make to your hearing aids if needed to make the process easier for you.
Learn about hearing loss and hearing aids in as much detail as you feel will be helpful to you, this often also helps some people.
Lastly, have realistic expectations; hearing aids are exactly what they say they are, an aid to hearing. They will not return your hearing to normal, but they will make your life much easier if you give them and yourself the best chance.
