Getting used to your hearing aid

Step 1: Gain experience

Begin your training program in familiar surroundings, like your home. Put your new hearing aid(s) on and start conversing. Start with one-on-one conversation and listening to the television or radio. As you become more comfortable you can increase the places you wear them. Step-by-step you can then add to the complexity of your surroundings, although very noisy environments are to be avoided initially.

Step 2: Continually increase your wearing time

On the first day you should not wear your hearing instrument for more than 2-3 hours. Increase this time gradually for a few weeks, until you can wear your hearing instruments all day without noticing them. Remember to wear your hearing instruments at home, so you will be able to hear the telephone ringing, the doorbell, etc.

Step 3: Adapt the volume to the situation

Many digital hearing aids do not need any adjustment which is why they do not have a volume control function. If you have a volume control, do not set the volume too high. This can result in distortion rather than improved understanding. Do not try to understand soft voices over a great distance. Remember that people who hear well cannot do that either.

Step 4: The hearing instrument

Ideally your hearing instruments should become a natural extension of your body, similar to glasses or contact lenses. This should happen naturally as you get used to your new hearing system. Should you experience discomfort, consult your Hearing Care professional.

Make allowances for the effects of fatigue

Wearing hearing instruments and hearing a greater range of sounds may tire you or make you irritable at first. If this happens, take a break. You can train yourself to get used to hearing instruments but you cannot force yourself. A positive attitude and a desire to better understand what is being said are keys to your success.

Learn to be an effective listener

With your hearing instruments it is now easier to hear well and communicate effectively in both quiet and noisy situations. It is still necessary however for you to be an effective listener. Even people with perfect hearing often have to concentrate on what they want to hear and ignore or suppress other sounds.

You can learn to be a more effective listener

• Try to identify any sounds you don't recognize when you first start wearing your hearing instrument.
• Practice concentrating on the sounds and voices you want to hear, ignoring those that are less important
• When there are a number of different sounds around you, practice shifting your attention from one to another

Adjust to your own voice

At first you may not recognize the sound of your own voice. It is, however, very important to hear your own voice so that you can control and correct the volume of your voice properly.

Step 5: Living with noise

The world is a noisy place. Often people with perfect hearing are able to suppress interfering noises by concentrating on the sounds they wish to hear. However, if you have had a hearing impairment for some time you may have lost this ability. Furthermore, your hearing instruments will re-introduce you to many sounds you may have forgotten, e.g. the ticking of a clock, paper being crumpled, the clicking of heels on the floor, birds chirping, children laughing...

Not all the sounds are pleasant of course. You can also learn how to ignore unwanted sounds again. Practice concentrating on what you want to hear. If you have multi-program hearing aids; practice choosing the best program for the situation.

Step 6: Taking part in discussions

Even people with normal hearing may have problems understanding speech if several people speak at once. It will help if you move closer to the person you want to hear and concentrate on him/her.

Step 7: Visiting public places

Theatres, places of worship, conference rooms and other public places present a challenge for the hearing instrument user. It is helpful to sit where the acoustic conditions are best, which is usually not too close to the speaker but close enough that you can see his/her face. Many public buildings have assistive devices to make it easier to hear.

Step 8: Listening to radio and television

Concentrate on trying to follow the overall meaning rather than each individual word. Certain accessories can be helpful in this situation. Consult a Hearing Care professional for advice on assistive devices, such as wireless communication systems.

Step 9: Using the telephone

There are a number of ways for hearing instrument users to better understand speech over the telephone. Your Hearing Care professional can help you find the solution best suited to your needs.

Using the telephone with your hearing instrument microphone

If you have Behind-The-Ear (BTE) instruments, the microphone is at the top of your ear. If you have In-The-Ear (ITE) instruments, the microphone is in the area of your ear canal. If feedback (whistling) occurs, hold the telephone receiver a little further away. You can find the position where the signal is clearest and strongest by experimenting with the receiver while listening to one of the recorded information services e.g. the speaking clock or the weather forecast.

Using the hearing instrument's built-in telecoil

Many Behind-the-Ear (BTE), In-The-Canal (ITC) and In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing instruments have a built-in telecoil circuit. This is activated manually by selecting the "T" position on the switch or the remote control. Also, new technology provides switchless t-coils that will automatically change to the telephone program.

A telecoil allows an electromagnetic signal to be picked-up. With a "Hearing instrument compatible telephone" your hearing instrument can directly receive the telephone signal via magnetic induction if you switch your hearing aid to the "T" position.

To operate the telecoil:

1. Switch the hearing instrument to the "T" position via the remote control switch.
2. Increase the volume if necessary
3. Place the receiver over the hearing instrument where the signal is strongest
4. After your phone call remember to switch back to the microphone position

Built-in telephone amplifier

Many telephone companies have telephones available with built-in amplifiers and a volume control. You can adjust the volume of the signal produced by the telephone and hold the receiver over the hearing instrument microphone.

Step 10: Two ears are better than one

The use of two hearing instruments for people with a hearing loss in both ears has many advantages. It offers a new dimension in hearing - after all, it is not by chance that nature gave us two ears.

Step 11: Tips for maintaining your new hearing aid

• Open the battery door each time you remove the hearing aid. This helps dry-out and prevent moisture build-up.
• Clean the hearing aid on a daily basis. Use the brush provided with the aid and a tissue. This will prevent wax from building up in the tube leading from the speaker to the outside of the hearing aid. Be careful not to push wax down the tubing.
• Always remove your hearing aid from your ear before retiring to bed.
• Have your ears cleared of wax on a regular basis.
• Use a dry-aid kit daily. These kits contain moisture absorbing silicone crystals. The battery must be removed from the hearing aid before placing in the kit. The silicone is recharged by placing in the oven when it turns pink.
• If possible, switch off your hearing aid before inserting in your ear (to avoid feedback)
• Insert/Remove hearing aid over a soft surface (carpet or sofa) to avoid extensive damage if dropped.

Click here for additional detail on how Two Ears are Better Than One

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