I
don't know how many readers have been newly diagnosed with hearing
loss. But just in case someone out there is wearing hearing aids for
the first time, or about to get hearing aids, I'd like to share some
tips that will, hopefully, make this transition a little easier. I
don't have a cochlear implant, but I'm sure this would also apply to
CI's as well.
1.)
Your first pair of aids should only be used under the supervision of
an audiologist. I bought my
current pair of hearing aids online and am thrilled with the results,
but my first pair came from the audiologist. I know it costs an arm
and a leg to get them from there, but it's really worth it the first
time around. In the US, health insurance rarely covers hearing aids
but most clinics will let you set up a payment plan. I've heard from
a few hearing aid users in Canada and the UK and other European
countries who said their aids were either covered or mostly covered
by insurance. So if you live outside the US, check with your
insurance provider, because it may be covered.
2.)
When you first put your hearing aids on, things WILL sound weird.
Give your ears and brain time to adjust before taking the aids back
for a tune-up. I've seen
YouTube videos of people getting a cochlear implant activated or
putting on hearing aids for the first time. They always seem so
excited, and you don't see any hint of shock or discomfort. Frankly,
that was not my experience for either pair of hearing aids. Sure, I
was excited, but everything was SO loud. Ambient noise sounded like
a train running through my head because I didn't remember what it sounded like. And be prepared for the fact that your voice might sound
weird to yourself. When I got my first pair of hearing aids, I hated
my voice because I sounded like a robot. All
the little sounds I'd never heard before drove me insane. This is
completely normal and starts to go away anywhere from a few days to a
few weeks after your fitting.
3.)
Wear them for a few hours a day and work up to full days as quickly
as you can. Wearing hearing
aids is not like wearing glasses. Your brain needs to adjust to how
you hear through your hearing aids. The more you can wear your
hearing aids, the quicker your brain will adjust, and eventually
you'll get to the point where you forget you're even wearing them. If
you're worried about the cost of batteries, I'm with you on that one.
Nowadays there are several models that use rechargeable batteries,
which will save money and batteries in the long run. (These models
can still use regular batteries if something were to happen to your
rechargeables.)
4.)
Always, always, ALWAYS carry extra batteries and a case. I
can't emphasize this enough. You don't want to be in a situation
where your batteries run out of juice and you don't have other ones.
Even with rechargeables, I have the occasional night where I forget
to put them in the charger before I go to bed. And if, heaven
forbid, your hearing aids come into contact with water, the battery
will be a goner so you will need a new one to use after your hearing
aid is revived. Assuming it still works, that is.
5.)
Get a hearing aid dehumidifier. Nothing
can wear out hearing aids and molds faster than moisture.
If you use rechargeable batteries with an electric charger, the
charger sort of acts as a dehumidifier so you won't need to use it as
often. But even if you have a charger, you still need a
dehumidifier. On super humid days, you'll need to throw your hearing
aids in there whenever there's significant moisture buildup, and they
can be very helpful for reviving a hearing aid that has gotten wet.
(Reviving
a wet hearing aid is a topic that deserves its own post. I'll work on
that and get it posted as soon as possible.)
6.)
Keep them out of reach of pets and small children.
I don't know what it is about pets, but they love hearing aids. My
previous cat would take them out of the dehumidifier while I was in
the shower if I didn't shut the darn thing all the way. She would
play with them, and throw them around, and hide them places. If your
dehumidifier has a screw-top lid, make sure it's screwed all the way
tight. If it's only screwed on part way and a dog or cat knocks it
over, it will break open.
7.)
NEVER take your hearing aids off and put them in your pocket. If
you need to take them off, put them in a case or dehumidifier. This
is asking for trouble. You could forget they're in there and run
them through the washing machine. You could drop them in a puddle
trying to get them out of your pocket. I've
done both of those, I'm sorry to say. The
possibilities of what could happen are endless. Just don't even mess
with this.
8.)
Be patient with yourself while learning how to use the phone with
your hearing aid. I'll be
writing another post about hearing aids and phone usage at some
point, but know that it takes some getting used to. Don't be afraid
to use other communication modes if it's easier.
