The Most Frequent Mistakes Made by New Hearing Aid Owners

Congratulations on your new hearing aid. Now that you’ve finally gotten your new hearing aid, you need to take proper care of it. Remember that it will be your companion for a long time – the average hearing aid has an average lifespan of 10 years, so treat it accordingly by avoiding some of the mistakes that many new owners make. 

In this article, we’ll be showing you some of the more common mistakes that we’ve seen new people make after getting their hearing aid for the first time. Most of the time, these mistakes are avoidable. All it takes is a bit of carefulness and attention to detail, and your hearing device will last for a really long time. 

Assuming Their Hearing Will Instantly Improve

Many people assume that their hearing will go back to being 100% as soon as they leave the audiologist’s office. This is not true. This process takes time. You will need to get used to having the device in your ear and listening to people again. 

The hearing aid can feel slightly weird when you start wearing it at first, but over time, you’ll get used to the feeling. A more realistic timeline for drastically improved hearing is about one month – some say they hear better within two weeks. Whatever the case, hang in there. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, persevere. It’ll pay off very soon. 

Not Knowing How the Devices Work

Don’t assume that you know how your hearing aid works. This is because many modern hearing aids have impressive tech that adapts to various settings and environments. 

They may also come with extra features that connect to your phone, TV, home entertainment system and other appliances in the home. So, learn everything you can about it. Most will come with a manual containing all pertinent information. Study it and maybe even go over it with your audiologist if you’re not sure of something.  

Skipping the Hearing Aid Fitting

Most of the people who do this end up having or wearing poorly fitted hearing aids. These aids are meant to help combat hearing loss by amplifying the sounds around you, fitting into your ear comfortably, staying there for long periods without causing any discomfort and should be easy to wear and remove. 

The best way to ensure that it meets all these requirements is by going for a fitting session. Here, you’ll test multiple hearing aids until you find the one with the best fitting.  

Using the Device Without Tracking Improvements

How are you supposed to know if your hearing is getting better or if there are improvements in your hearing if you’re not tracking it? This is why you need to pay attention to how the hearing aid performs and feels in your ear for prolonged periods. 

Test the device in as many rooms or environments as possible. For instance, if you’re struggling to hear anything in a smaller room, note it down so you can talk to the audiologist about it at your next appointment. 

If the device feels like it’s not performing as it should, take note of it too. This way, when you give the audiologist some feedback, they’ll be able to do what they need to get the device to function optimally.  

Being Evasive During the Hearing Test

Your hearing test is for your benefit. It’s not an examination that you have to pass. It’s meant to help assess the current state of your hearing so that you can get the most effective hearing aid. So, when people aren’t truthful about their hearing capabilities – whether out of shame or fear of rebuke – they are basically setting themselves up for failure. So, be candid during your hearing test.

Not Preparing Adequately for Life After Getting the Aids

The truth is it takes a while for people to get used to having and wearing their hearing aids. For instance, it’s not unusual for people to forget they have it on and have a shower with it – this can damage it. People also tend to forget them. Whatever the case, you should prepare for life after you go home with the hearing aid. Otherwise, you may have to buy a new one.

Being Careless with the Device

The components in a hearing aid are often delicate and sensitive. While the manufacturers try to encase them in hard shells so they don’t get damaged easily, manhandling the device by throwing it around carelessly, dropping it, forgetting to charge the batteries or get spare batteries and not cleaning it properly can damage the device. 

If you’d like to learn more about how to take better care of your hearing aid or just need more information, you can talk to our audiologist at Ascent Audiology & Hearing.Call us at (360) 515-9948 today to book an appointment.