5 tips for your first weeks with a hearing aid

Adjusting: why the first weeks matter

Congratulations, you have decided on a hearing aid. That is an important step towards a better quality of life. Experience shows, though, that the first weeks are a period of adjustment that calls for some patience and the right strategies.

Why is that? If you have heard poorly for months or years, your brain has grown used to reduced auditory input. Suddenly sounds you have not registered for a long time come flooding back: your own chewing, a clock ticking, paper rustling. That can feel overwhelming at first.

Do not worry: this is entirely normal and it passes. Here are our five proven tips for adjusting successfully.

Tip 1: start slowly, build up gradually

Do not wear your hearing aid all day at first. Start with 2 to 3 hours and increase the wearing time by about an hour each day.

A recommended schedule

• Week 1: 3 to 4 hours a day, mainly in quiet surroundings at home
• Week 2: 5 to 6 hours a day, first outings into moderately noisy places
• Week 3: 8 to 10 hours a day, restaurant visits, shopping, meeting friends
• Week 4: all-day wear, including demanding situations

Some people adjust more quickly, others need a little longer. Listen to how you feel, but keep at it. Building up consistently is what allows your brain to adapt for good.

Tip 2: set realistic expectations

A hearing aid is not a miracle cure that instantly restores perfect hearing. Set yourself realistic goals:

• Yes: conversations become easier again, you understand TV and telephone better, you feel more confident in company
• No: a hearing aid cannot regenerate destroyed hair cells. In extremely noisy environments listening will remain hard work even with a hearing aid

What you might experience in the first few days:

• Your own voice sounds different or hollow, this normalises
• Background noise seems louder than speech: your brain has to relearn how to filter
• The device feels unfamiliar in your ear, this becomes second nature over time

Tip 3: begin in quiet surroundings

Start the adjustment period at home in quiet surroundings. That gives your brain a chance to get used to the new input without being overwhelmed.

Exercises for at home

• One-to-one conversation: talk with one person in quiet surroundings. Notice how the voice feels
• Radio and television: listen to news or programmes with clear speech
• Notice everyday sounds deliberately: the kettle, the doorbell, birdsong. Take note of which sounds you are rediscovering
• Read aloud: read out loud and get used to your own voice with the hearing aid

Only once you feel comfortable in quiet surroundings should you work your way towards louder situations.

Tip 4: keep your follow-up appointments

The initial fitting is only the beginning. Over the following weeks, follow-up appointments with your hearing care professional are essential. At Elbe Akustik we schedule at least 3 to 4 fine-tuning appointments during the adjustment period.

What happens at a follow-up appointment

• Your feedback: you tell us what works well and where things still fall short
• Measurement: we check the current settings with measuring instruments
• Adjustment: fine tuning of volume, frequency ranges, programmes and automatic features
• New programmes: where needed we create special programmes for particular situations (restaurant, music or phone calls, for example)

Important: between appointments, make a note of the situations you found difficult. The more precise your feedback, the better we can adjust.

Our stores in Glückstadt, Horst, Wedel, Barmstedt and Itzehoe are there for quick readjustments, ideally after a brief phone call.

Tip 5: care and maintenance from day one

A hearing aid is a high-precision piece of technology that needs daily care. Good habits from the start extend its life considerably.

Daily care

• In the evening: take the hearing aid out and wipe it with a dry, soft cloth
• Overnight: place it in a drying box or the charger (moisture is enemy number one)
• In the morning: quickly check that the microphone openings are free of earwax

Weekly care

• Clean the earmoulds (if you have them) with the cleaning tool provided
• Check the filters and change them when needed (we will show you how)

What to avoid

• Hairspray, cream, perfume: apply first, then put the hearing aid in
• Extreme heat: do not leave it on a radiator or in a hot car
• Water: despite IP68 protection, take it out to shower or swim

Free servicing at Elbe Akustik

We offer all our customers a free maintenance service for life. Simply drop in at one of our stores:

• Professional ultrasonic cleaning
• Function check
• Filter and tube replacement
• Software updates

We recommend coming in for professional servicing every 3 months.

In summary

Adjusting to a hearing aid is a process, but a rewarding one. With patience, the right strategies and professional support, you will soon not want to leave the house without your hearing aid.

Do you have questions about adjusting, or would you like to book a follow-up appointment? Get in touch, we are here for you.