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The annoyance of wearing hearing aids for the first time can be frustrating to the new wearer, family and friends alike. The person who is fitting the hearing aid onto its new wearer also needs to be patient. In many cases, learning how to care for and maintain a hearing aid is far easier than learning how to listen through one. Even just having your hearing aid set up will take patience. Teaching the patient how to care and maintain their hearing aid is painless and straightforward; teaching them how to effectively hear through their new device is the challenging part.

It usually takes from about six to eight weeks for the average brain to get used to this new method of hearing. For certain individuals, depending on age and health, it may take up to 3 to 6 months for the brain to become accustomed to the device. The acclimation period is almost always affected by the age of the wearer. In some cases a person may need up to six months depending on the condition of their brain, and how often they keep the hearing aid in. Getting used to a hearing aid will be more difficult for someone who is older versus someone who is younger.

People who have had hearing loss for a long time or on a severe level don’t realize they are supposed to hear their own voice. So when they hear their own voice for the first time after getting the hearing aid it can be a bit surprising to them. For a first time user of hearing aids it can be either a moment of illumination or a confusing experience when he first hears his own voice in speech.

If someone getting used to hearing aids initially notices that he hears his own voice more than he used to, he will ask if you think he is shouting because he hears more sound. They may become confused by the normal environmental and background noises that other people can tune out. The level of ambient noise can be a frustration to a person wearing a hearing aid. This can be a tricky situation because these sounds may frighten the wearer until they can figure out what they are. New users with severe hearing loss may be surprised at the background noises and environmental sounds that they will be able to hear again. These sounds can be upsetting until the brain determines what they are makes the decision on whether to ignore or focus on them.

The brain must learn to identify the sound, determine the direction the sound is coming from and prioritize the sounds it hears in order to effectively respond to what is needed and filter out what is not needed. Speaking louder will not help the hearing aid wearer to hear you better and can, in fact, be painful for them. Family and friends must be patient when the new wearer is getting used to the surrounding; it’s going to take a long time to get used to all the new noises that surround him. People close to the user may find themselves still shouting to be heard, only now the shouting proves to be painful. The patient is learning how to relate to his surroundings all over again, so patience from friends and family is key during this critical period of becoming acquainted with the new device.

Wearing hearing aids does help most hearing impaired people, however there are individuals for whom the aids will do little or nothing for.

The degree of the hearing loss, the level of nerve degeneration, duration of hearing loss, age and determination of the patient will all have an impact on how well the patient will adapt. Making sure that the patient receives the proper device and support on how to use it can make a big difference.

When you plan to get a hearing aid you need to keep in mind that you won’t be fixing your hearing problem completely, but it can improve your life situation by allowing you to communicate more easily with people who surround you.

It is also important to keep the hearing aid in good condition with regular maintenance. Hearing aids will need some maintenance to make sure they work properly, especially during hot and humid times which can affect the hearing aids performance more. Two things that can destroy hearing aids are earwax and moisture. Daily cleaning to allow sound a clear path through the channel is the most important maintenance. Seemingly trivial amounts of wax can cause sound distortion in the hearing aid and ultimately lead to a much less powerful or even broken device The humidity and heat of summer can wreak havoc on hearing aids. They will need more maintenance to keep them working properly. Two of the chief foes of hearing aids are moisture and earwax. Daily cleanings of hearing aids are necessary so that sounds can filter through properly. Sound quality can be affected by just a small amount of earwax, which can also weaken the hearing aid or even cause it to stop functioning.

If the ear wax gets into the electronics of the aid, it can mean an expensive repair. That can happen any time during the year not just summertime. To prevent moisture problems, never store the hearing aids in the bathroom or anywhere damp. However, you should note that this isn’t just a threat during the summer. Never store the hearing aid in a damp place like a bathroom to keep moisture from building up.

Also, you can get prepared wipes that you should use a few times every day to make sure no debris gets in the hearing aids. When not in use, the hearing aid should be stored with the battery door open; this will help air out the inner workings and prolong battery life. To keep your hearing aids operating in the highest possible capacity, have them professionally cleaned and checked every six months; a hearing aid operating at its peak will give you the best service. When the hearing aid is not in use, the battery slot should be left open to allow the device to air out and prolong the life of the batteries. Finally, regular six-month cleanings and check-ups should be scheduled to keep the hearing aids in excellent condition and avoid future problems.

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