Tips to Help You Maximize the Benefits of Your New Hearing Aids
Congratulations on the purchase of your new hearing aids!! Here are some tips that will help you maximize the benefits of your new hearing aids.
Caring for your hearing aids
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Protect your hearing aids from moisture. Don’t swim, shower, or bathe while wearing them. If a hearing aid gets wet, open the battery door, remove the battery, dry off the hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth, and set it aside for an hour or two. Ask one of our friendly audiologists about a hearing aid “drier” to store them in at night. Do not dry hearing aids in the microwave oven. This will damage the hearing aids.
• Protect your hearing aids from heat. Don’t place them on the dashboard of a car, on a radiator, or near any other heat source.
• Keep your hearing aids away from pets, children, and individuals with cognitive impairment.
• Clean your hearing aids using a soft, dry cloth. It’s common for earwax to build up in the hearing aid receiver (sound opening). Use the brush or small pick in your cleaning kit to gently remove wax or dirt from the microphone and receiver.
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Battery Basics
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Batteries come in a variety of sizes. Typical hearing aid batteries will last 5-7 days, depending on use.
• Remove the tab on the battery right before inserting it into the hearing aid.
• Insert the battery correctly for the hearing aid to work properly.
• Open the battery door when the hearing aid is not in use. Doing so does not extend the life of the battery but does allow air to dry out the battery compartment so moisture does not build up.
• Store batteries in a cool, dry place – but not in the refrigerator. Store them away from pets, children, and persons with cognitive impairment. Batteries are harmful if swallowed!!
• Do not store your batteries near medication. Before taking medications, make sure that you have not mistaken the battery for a pill or tablet. If a battery is swallowed, contact the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 202-625-3333.
Adjusting to your New Hearing Aids
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Wear your hearing aids! Your hearing aids will not be helpful if they are left in the dresser drawer. It is important to know how the hearing aids sound in quiet and how they sound in background noise. Don’t save them “for a special occasion” – use them daily.
• Make sure that your hearing aids are seated in your ear properly. A loose-fitting hearing aid can cause whistling or feedback. If you feel that the hearing aid is seated well but you are still bothered by feedback, please call us to make an appointment for an adjustment to your hearing aid, earmold, or both.
• If your ear gets sore from hearing aid use, do not use it. Please call us to make an appointment or come in during our walk-in hours.
Practice Strategic Listening
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Look at the speaker. Position yourself to get a full view of his or her face. Everyone has some ability to speechread, which involves not only watching the speaker’s lips but also watching his or her gestures and facial expression.
• Don’t bluff your way through the conversation. This can lead to problems later if people assume you understand what has been said.
• Repeat the part of the message that you heard. Reiterating a piece of the information that you heard will keep the conversation going. Let the listener know when you don’t understand.
• Plan ahead for difficult listening situations. For example, select a seat closer to the speaker or request that public address systems be used when available. Ask if an assistive listening device is available.
• Move to a quieter spot if you are having difficulty hearing in background noise.
• Stay relaxed! It’s much easier to communicate when you are feeling confident and at ease.
Encourage others to communicate clearly
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Communication is a two-way street. It involves the listener AND the speaker.
• Remind people to get your attention before speaking.
• Ask others to speak directly to you. Remind them to face you and to avoid speaking to you from another room.
• Ask people not to shout. They should speak clearly and at a moderate pace.
• Remind others to reduce background noise by turning off the television or radio, or by moving to a quieter location.
• Ask the speaker to rephrase, rather than just repeat, their statement or question if they notice that you did not understand it the first time. Sometimes a different combination of words is easier to understand.
• Remind others to avoid putting objects in front of their mouth while speaking. As a listener, you need to see what the speaker is saying.
• Encourage others to maintain eye contact and use facial expressions and gestures to assist with communication.
• Request written agendas for meetings.
• Ask people to let you know when the topic of conversation has changed.
• Let others know that it is okay to ask you for suggestions on how to improve communication if you seem to be having difficulty understanding.
