Hearing loss can be debilitating and can adversely affect your life and quality of life. Thankfully, science has advanced sufficiently to help restore your hearing loss with the help of hearing aids.
Related Blog: Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss
Remember that patience is important. When you begin wearing hearing aids, you will hear sounds and noises that you may not have heard for years. Some noises may sound unusual. Just remember this is perfectly normal. Just give yourself plenty of time to adjust.
Tips for Listening with Hearing Aids
At times, it may be difficult to hear, especially in a noisy setting like a party, meetings or large gatherings. You will need to practice to separate what a person is saying from the ambient sounds around you. So without much ado, here are some listening tips that will help you get the most out of your hearing aids.
Make it a point to look directly at the speaker. Watch the person’s facial expressions, gestures and lip movements to help you understand what is being said
If you don’t understand what another person is saying, be sure to let them know, and ask them to repeat themselves and this time slowly
When watching TV, keep the volume at a level that is not disturbing to others. Instead, turn up the volume of your hearing aid until you can hear the TV clearly
If you have to attend a large gathering, it is best to arrive early so that you can select a place that lets you be as close as possible to the speaker. This way, you will be able to see and listen better
It is best not to attempt to communicate with someone if you are in two different rooms
Don’t feel embarrassed about your hearing loss. Let others know and give them tips to help you hear better while talking with them
Hearing loss does not have to prevent you from functioning normally and having healthy relationships in your professional and social life. Just remember, when you first determine you have hearing loss, and especially if you experience tinnitus, balance issues and/or dizziness, consult an ENT physician first. The physician will evaluate you to determine if there are any medical issues which must be treated and then will recommend further course of action, which may include testing and evaluation by an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.