New Hearing Aid? What To Know
The ability to hear well is something that you might have been missing, so the possibility of improving that sense with a hearing aid can be one that you eagerly anticipate. However, you've got to know a few things about the piece and what you may experience so that you can get used to your recovered hearing ability. Here's what you've got to know about a new hearing piece.
You Might Not Be Comfortable Right Away
The excitement you feel when you put in your hearing aid for the first time can be extreme. However, that feeling can soon turn to concern or disappointment as you begin to realize that the experience isn't what you imagined it would be. The sounds might be too overwhelming and you might find it hard to pick out individual voices. Luckily, you can slowly adjust to your new piece if you ease into it by listening to the sounds of your own voice at first. Wait until you are comfortable with hearing aid volume and the sounds you are starting to hear before venturing out to crowded spots.
You Have to Keep It Clean
It's possible that you imagine that the piece is so small that there's not much you need to do in the way of maintenance. The truth is that ear wax can become such a problem that it can cause you to think that the aid is malfunctioning when the only issue is that wax is interfering with it. For that reason, you need to be serious about wiping the piece down each night with a soft cloth when you remove it. You may want to have a cleaning kit on hand, as they typically contain a brush, a tube cleaner, and a tiny pick for dislodging wax.
You May Need Accessories
You might already understand that the piece, because it has a battery, shouldn't be worn during showers or when you're swimming in the ocean or a pool. However, you may not know that steamy rooms or jogging with the hearing aid in could also generate enough sweat and moisture to affect the functioning of your earpiece. For that reason, you may want to pick up some accessories that will ensure moisture isn't a problem. For instance, a nylon sleeve slipped around the piece can block sweat while you exercise. A dehumidifying case will dry out the hearing aid after a day when you've been exposed to high levels of humidity.
Your earpiece can be a wonderful way to recover your ability to hear. Discussing these things more with an audiologist at clinics like Pacific Hearing Care will give you further insight that will make your hearing aid experience better.