With your new hearing aids, you will suddenly hear sounds that you lost the ability to hear years ago. It will take time to adjust and retrain your brain to recognize speech sounds that are no longer distorted by hearing loss. It can feel loud. It can be tiring, and the sound you hear may not be what you expected. Rest assured that you will adapt in time, and that the positive changes to your life will be well worth the journey.
And remember, your hearing professional is there to help. Don’t be afraid to call or visit to discuss your concerns. Or call 1-888-461-9332 to speak with a hearing professional immediately.
Hearing aids and your brain: Relearning how to hear
1. Be realistic.
Remember that your hearing loss has been gradual; over the years you have lost the ability to hear certain sounds in the speech spectrum and normal sounds of the environment, such as traffic and wind noise, the hum of machinery and other background noises.
2. Practice.
When you begin to wear hearing aids, these sounds will be restored but your brain will need practice and reeducation in order to selectively focus on and filter sounds. Some sounds may even startle you at first. Know that your brain will reacclimate to these sounds over time.
3. Be patient.
It takes time to adapt to hearing aids. Wear them as much as possible at first to become more skilled at recognizing sound direction and to learn which hearing aid settings work best for you in different situations.
4. Rest.
The adjustment period may be tiresome. It’s a lot like retraining a muscle that hasn’t been used in a while. But the benefits will be worth it after you’ve made the adjustment.
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