If you’re looking to address hearing loss, then hearing aids are, simply put, the best strategy the majority of the time. They can be truly life-changing, allowing you to hear in ways that you perhaps thought you wouldn’t again. But that’s not to say that the transition is always seamless. It can take a little adjustment, and you might have a few complaints along the way. Here, we’ll look at a few and what you can do to manage them as best as possible.
Your Voice Sounds Different
One of the first things you might notice when wearing hearing aids is that your voice suddenly sounds louder or echoey than it was before. This is called the occlusion effect, and although common, it is something that tends to fade over time as your brain adjusts to the sound. However, if it doesn’t, sometimes having the settings adjusted or the ear mold modified can fix the issue. Typically, however, you can best acclimate by reading aloud or holding conversations more often until the effect fades away.
They’re Overwhelming
Hearing aids are powerful devices that can restore your range of hearing to a great degree, but that also means that the change can be quite profound to begin with. This can make environments like restaurants or busy streets feel chaotic at first. Modern hearing aids come with directional microphones and noise-reduction features, but they may need tweaking. Often, professionals recommend starting to wear them in quieter environments, like in the home, to begin with, exposing yourself to environments with more noise over time. Your brain does begin to get used to them and filter sounds from background noise, just as it did with your regular hearing before wearing hearing aids. It usually just takes a period of adjustment.
They Can Malfunction
The advanced technology inside hearing aids is what makes them so effective, but it can also make them prone to issues. This is especially true if they are dropped or kept in wet or humid environments, like the bathroom, for too long. Wax buildup, moisture, or battery issues are common culprits, but if a cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue, hearing aid repair usually can. Most of the time, repairs can be done on the spot, but if there are any serious issues that require further attention, you can get a temporary replacement from your hearing health provider.
They Get Dirty Easily
Aside from the malfunctions that seem to arise from general wear and tear, hearing aids are pretty delicate pieces of equipment, and the buildup of dirt, debris, and especially earwax can affect them over time. Rather than simply letting them get worse, it’s important to clean them every day. This is made a lot easier with a hearing aid cleaning kit, and you should be mindful to avoid ever using water or things like a wet cloth to wash them, as moisture can damage the internal components, such as the battery.
Hearing aids can be nothing short of transformative, but this often requires you to ensure that you’re making the best use of them. Hopefully, the tips above can help you do that.
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