Is There an Adjustment Period for Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids are the most common solution for dealing with hearing loss. Hearing aids can come in many different shapes and sizes, and modern devices have many unique features that can be useful for helping you adjust to them more quickly. However, regardless of how unique or modern hearing aids are, there can still be a learning curve when getting used to wearing them, taking care of them and operating them.

There are a number of ways to greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to adjust to your hearing aids, and in this article, we’re going to discuss these considerations.

Length of time to adjust to hearing aids

As an estimate, it can take a few months to completely adjust to your hearing aids so that they feel natural. This is because there are many different things to get accustomed to. From hearing all of the different background noises to the lifestyle changes involved with hearing aids, there are a number of different considerations to keep in mind that can’t be ignored.

Most audiologists will suggest you take time off work before you can adjust to your hearing aids. It will take roughly two weeks to get used to hearing the different sounds and experiencing the sensations of taking in all the different background noises. For many people, it can be overwhelming to be able to hear clearly again. This can even be emotionally taxing for those who have been coping with hearing loss for a long time.

We suggest that you take at least two weeks off work to grow accustomed to your hearing aids enough that they no longer surprise or shock you when you hear different sounds. It will take much longer to get used to the many different features and lifestyle changes required to use your hearing aids effectively, but two weeks is a good amount of time to spend adjusting to the basics of your hearing aids.

Hearing aid acceptance

The first challenge is going to be the acceptance that you have hearing loss. Many people find it difficult to cope with the fact that they have hearing loss and find it hard to cope with their use. Accepting that you have hearing loss isn’t easy and it can put a lot of people off giving them a chance.

Speak with your audiologist if you feel that you’re having trouble coping with the acceptance of using your hearing aids.

Practicing with your hearing aids

Practice can help you adjust to your hearing aids more quickly, but it involves a lot more than just wearing them on a regular basis. It’s important to use your hearing aids and practice having conversations with others. It also helps to expose yourself to different situations where using your hearing aids for the first time might surprise you. For example, you can go for walks or go shopping with your hearing aids to get accustomed to the background noises that you might hear when using your hearing aids.

You might also want to speak to your friends and family members with them to get used to the sensation. Attending group meetings and parties with them on can also help you learn to use them to distinguish conversations and allow you to focus on speaking to an individual or group of people without being distracted.

Realistic time frames to adjust to your hearing aids

You should also be realistic with how long it takes to adjust to your hearing aids. As we mentioned before, it can take a few months to fully acclimate, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get easier every single day. The good news is a lot of exciting things will be happening while you’re adjusting to hearing aids, from hearing sounds you haven’t in a long time to enjoying conversations again – even in a group setting.

Be realistic with your time frame and don’t expect that you can start attending parties or return to work the moment you receive them. It’s going to take a couple of days to even get used to the sensation, let alone adjust to the lifestyle changes required to use your hearing aids naturally.

Speak to a professional audiologist

If you’re in need of more assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Hinderliter Hearing Services at 248-430-8425. Our staff is well-versed in hearing aid technology and can provide you not only with a solution you need, but tips on getting used to your new devices.