Know Your Own Female Body

If you're looking to buy hearing aids, you're likely wondering how you can get the right one. You're also wondering how you can get used to them and how to get the most from hearing devices. Here are four tips every first-time user of hearing aids needs to know: 

1. Get a hearing aid fitting from an audiologist

To get the best hearing aid, get your fitting from a professional audiologist. Your audiologist will ensure that your hearing aid fits and that you can hear without discomfort. An audiologist also uses special devices that adjust the hearing aid's settings specifically for you, based on the way sound travels through your ear canal.

2. Take it slow

Once you have your hearing aid, take it slow and easy the first few days. Your brain is adjusting to a whole new world of sound. You can easily become fatigued and get a headache if you push too hard. Here is a guideline on what to do for the first few days:

• Wear your device for a few hours. Slowly increase the time each day.
• On your first day, use your device in a quiet room. You will be surprised how loud even soft noise like a clock ticking will seem.
• Read out loud.
• Talk to many family members and friends. You must relearn how to distinguish their voices and speaking patterns.

3. Properly care for your hearing aid

Your hearing aid will last years with the proper care. If you've never had a hearing aid before, you may not know how to clean and maintain it. Here are some tips on hearing aid care:  

• Use a listening tube to check for scratchy sounds or feedback.
• Change the batteries every 2 weeks.
• Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the device. Don't submerge the device in water.
• Remove the device and keep the battery compartment open when you sleep. This prevents battery drain and moisture buildup.

4. Know how to troubleshoot

It's important that you know how to troubleshoot and perform simple repairs on your device. If you don't, you'll be running to the audiologist over every little issue. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• If you can't hear any sound, make sure the device has fresh batteries, and the volume is turned up.
• Check the openings and the tube for debris. Use a soft brush to clean them.
• Remove moisture with an air blower.

These four tips will get you the most from your hearing aid, especially if you're a first time user. For more information, contact an audiologist.