Adaptation to hearing aids is actually about getting used to the amplified sound, gradually being able to distinguish speech from noise, and gradually increasing the ability to recognize speech. It may be helpful to note the following points to help with this adaptation process.
1. When you first use your hearing aid, turn down the volume and practice getting used to the sound of your own voice. Don’t be concerned that some words are not heard clearly right away. Allow the brain to have an active orientation and adaptation process to the amplified speech sounds. Zhang Jidong, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Air Force General Hospital
2. First adapt to the hearing aid in a safer environment, which also allows the brain to actively adapt and get used to the speech sounds.
3. When family and friends are talking to you, let them try to get your attention first. And don’t shout, but speak more slowly and clearly.
4. When watching TV or listening to the radio, because actors often like to speak in a special tone and the accompanying music often obscures the dialogue, sit as far as possible from a distance of 2 to 3 meters and pay attention to the tone and speed of the dialogue.
5. If you want to wear a hearing aid to listen to a telephone, place the telephone receiver close to the microphone of the hearing aid, but not close to your ear. You can try it yourself to find out the most suitable position for receiving. Some hearing aids are equipped with an electromagnetic wave receiver that receives electromagnetic waves directly from the phone; if you have this device on your hearing aid, you can use it when making phone calls, but the volume may need to be turned up. Do not force yourself to do too many exercises.
6. If you feel uncomfortable, turn your hearing aid off or take it off and put it back on after a short break. You should keep wearing it so that your brain continues to be effectively stimulated and gradually regains its active filtering and discriminating functions against noise.
7. The adaptation process may take a few weeks, or perhaps longer, in some cases about three months.
8. There may be some elderly people who have poor speech discrimination, and even if they do not have hearing loss, they may still have speech recognition problems. But after all, hearing aids will improve hearing and the quality of life of the wearer. On the other hand, hearing aids increase the stimulation of sound to the brain, which may slow down the aging of the brain.