What to Expect With Your First Pair of Hearing Aids
Getting your first pair of hearing aids is an important step toward hearing conversations more clearly, staying connected with the people around you and enjoying the sounds you may have been missing.
If you are considering hearing aids in Charlotte, NC, you may also have questions about what happens after you decide to move forward. Will everything sound normal immediately? How long does it take to adjust to hearing aids? What happens during a hearing aid fitting? And how often will your hearing aids need to be adjusted?
At Audibel Hearing Center in Charlotte, we help patients understand what to expect before, during and after receiving their first hearing aids.
Your Hearing Aid Journey Starts With a Hearing Evaluation
Before choosing hearing aids, the first step is understanding your hearing.
A professional hearing evaluation can identify the type and degree of hearing loss you may have and help determine which hearing aid technology may be appropriate for your needs.
During a hearing evaluation at our Charlotte hearing center, we can discuss situations where you are having difficulty hearing, such as:
Understanding conversations in restaurants
Hearing family members clearly
Following conversations in groups
Hearing television without increasing the volume
Understanding soft-spoken voices
Hearing clearly in background noise
Following conversations on the phone
Your hearing test provides a baseline for your hearing and helps guide recommendations for hearing aid styles, technology levels and features.
If you have never had your hearing checked, scheduling a hearing test in Charlotte, NC is a good place to start.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are not one-size-fits-all devices.
Today’s digital hearing aids are available in a wide range of styles, sizes and technology levels. The right hearing aids for you will depend on your hearing loss, lifestyle, comfort preferences and the listening environments you encounter most often.
Some common hearing aid options include:
Receiver-in-canal hearing aids
These popular hearing aids sit discreetly behind the ear with a small receiver placed inside the ear canal.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids
Behind-the-ear hearing aids can accommodate a wide range of hearing losses and offer powerful technology and dependable performance.
In-the-ear hearing aids
Custom hearing aids are made to fit the shape of your ear and are available in several sizes.
Invisible and discreet hearing aids
For patients who prefer a less noticeable hearing solution, smaller custom hearing aids may fit deeper inside the ear canal.
Rechargeable hearing aids
Rechargeable hearing aids eliminate the need to regularly replace small disposable batteries and can be a convenient option for many hearing aid users.
Modern hearing aids may also include Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone control, rechargeable batteries, advanced speech processing and technology designed to help improve hearing in background noise.
Your hearing aid specialist can help you compare your options and choose hearing aids that fit your individual needs.
What Happens During Your First Hearing Aid Fitting?
Once your hearing aids arrive, you will return for a hearing aid fitting and programming appointment.
This is when your hearing aids are adjusted specifically for your hearing.
Your hearing aids will be programmed according to your hearing test results, but your personal listening preferences are also important. Adjustments can be made to help sounds feel comfortable while providing the amplification you need.
During your hearing aid fitting in Charlotte, you may also learn:
How to insert and remove your hearing aids
How to charge your rechargeable hearing aids
How to replace hearing aid batteries if needed
How to clean your hearing aids
How to change wax filters
How to use hearing aid programs
How to adjust the volume
How to connect hearing aids to your smartphone
How to use Bluetooth streaming
How to properly store your hearing aids
Learning how to care for and operate your hearing aids can make the transition to better hearing much easier.
Will Hearing Aids Sound Strange at First?
Possibly — and that can be completely normal.
When someone has experienced gradual hearing loss, the brain may not have processed certain everyday sounds at normal levels for years.
Once hearing aids begin restoring those sounds, things such as running water, footsteps, paper rustling, birds, turn signals and even your own voice may initially seem more noticeable.
You may find yourself thinking, “Was everything always this loud?”
In many cases, the answer is yes. Your brain simply became accustomed to hearing less of those sounds.
As you wear your hearing aids consistently, your brain begins learning how to process these sounds again.
How Long Does It Take to Adjust to Hearing Aids?
Adjusting to new hearing aids is a process.
Some people notice an immediate improvement in conversation, while others need more time to become comfortable with amplified sound.
The adjustment period may take several days or several weeks depending on factors such as:
How long you have had hearing loss
The degree of hearing loss
How consistently you wear your hearing aids
The environments where you use them
Your previous experience with hearing aids
How your hearing aids are programmed
One of the most important things you can do is wear your hearing aids regularly.
Consistent use gives your brain more opportunities to adapt to the sounds around you.
Start in Comfortable Listening Environments
When you first begin wearing hearing aids, it can help to start in familiar settings.
You might begin by wearing your hearing aids:
At home
During one-on-one conversations
While watching television
While talking with family members
During a quiet meal
As you become more comfortable, gradually begin using your hearing aids in more challenging environments such as restaurants, social gatherings, church, meetings or crowded public places.
This gradual approach can make adjusting to hearing aids feel more manageable.
Hearing in Background Noise May Take Practice
One of the most common reasons people seek hearing help is difficulty understanding speech in background noise.
Restaurants, family gatherings and crowded rooms can be challenging even with hearing aids.
Today's advanced hearing aid technology can help emphasize speech and reduce competing noise, but hearing aids do not completely eliminate background sound.
Your brain still plays an important role in identifying the sounds you want to hear.
As you become accustomed to your new hearing aids, your ability to navigate difficult listening situations may improve.
Your hearing aid specialist can also adjust your hearing aids if certain environments continue to be difficult.
Your Hearing Aids May Need Adjustments
Your first hearing aid programming is only the starting point.
As you begin wearing your hearing aids in everyday situations, you may discover that certain sounds need to be adjusted.
For example, you may notice that:
Your own voice sounds too loud
High-pitched sounds seem sharp
Restaurants are still difficult
Certain voices are harder to understand
Wind noise is distracting
The overall volume feels too strong or too soft
These observations are helpful.
Follow-up hearing aid adjustments allow your hearing care provider to fine-tune the devices based on your real-world experience.
Hearing aid programming can often be adjusted gradually as your brain becomes more accustomed to amplified sound.
Keep Track of Situations Where You Have Trouble Hearing
During your first few weeks with hearing aids, consider keeping a short list of situations where hearing is still difficult.
Instead of simply writing, “I couldn't hear well,” try to include details.
For example:
“I had trouble understanding my daughter at dinner when the television was playing.”
Or:
“I could hear the people at my table in the restaurant, but voices sounded unclear.”
Specific examples can help your hearing aid specialist make more precise programming adjustments.
Hearing Aids Require Routine Cleaning and Maintenance
Like any electronic device that is worn every day, hearing aids need regular care.
Earwax, moisture and debris can affect hearing aid performance if they are not cleaned properly.
Basic hearing aid maintenance may include:
Wiping your hearing aids daily
Cleaning microphones and openings
Replacing wax guards when necessary
Keeping hearing aids dry
Charging rechargeable hearing aids each night
Replacing batteries when needed
Scheduling professional hearing aid cleanings
If your hearing aids suddenly sound weak or stop working, earwax buildup or a blocked wax filter may be the cause.
Professional hearing aid cleaning and repair services can help keep your devices performing properly.
Hearing Aids Should Be Comfortable
Your hearing aids should feel secure and comfortable.
You may notice them during your first few days of use, but they should not cause persistent pain or significant irritation.
If your hearing aids feel uncomfortable, slip out of place or create pressure inside the ear, contact your hearing care provider.
Small physical adjustments can often make a significant difference.
Your Hearing May Change Over Time
Hearing can change gradually.
That is why regular hearing evaluations remain important even after you begin wearing hearing aids.
If your hearing changes, your hearing aids may be reprogrammed to accommodate those changes.
Regular hearing checks can also help determine whether your current hearing aids continue to meet your needs.
Your First Hearing Aids Are the Beginning, Not the End
Receiving hearing aids is not simply about purchasing a device.
Successful hearing care includes proper testing, professional hearing aid fitting, personalized programming, follow-up appointments and ongoing support.
The goal is to help you hear as comfortably and clearly as possible in the situations that matter most to you.
Looking for Hearing Aids in Charlotte, NC?
If you are experiencing hearing difficulty or are considering your first pair of hearing aids, Audibel Hearing Center can help.
We provide personalized hearing care for adults throughout Charlotte and the surrounding area, including professional hearing evaluations, hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings, hearing aid adjustments, hearing aid cleaning and hearing aid repair.
Whether you are exploring hearing aids for the first time or want to learn about today's newest hearing aid technology, we can help you understand your options.
Schedule a hearing evaluation with Daniel Pearce at Audibel Hearing Center in Charlotte, NC and find out where your hearing stands today.
