What to expect from your new hearing aid
When you first start wearing a hearing aid you may find that you are very aware of everyday background sounds that you have not been used to hearing. Things like kettles boiling, toilets flushing etc. You may find that these noises are distracting and make it difficult for you to focus on what you want to hear, this is quite normal. As you gradually become accustomed to these sounds, your brain will learn to filter them out, so that you become less aware of them over time.
Build up the use of your hearing aid gradually. It can take time to get used to it and the more you persevere with it, the more you will benefit.
Start by wearing the hearing aid for a couple of hours a day and gradually increase this. Everyone is different, so do this at a rate that you are comfortable with. Start off in a quiet place and when you feel ready, try wearing it in more noisy places. The important thing to remember is to persevere.
The Oticon Synergy hearing aid has the latest digital technology and is able to adapt to the different listening environments you are in. The hearing aid will adjust itself to make sounds louder for you in a quiet environment and cut down the background sounds whilst in a noisy environment.
Do not have unrealistic expectations of your hearing aid. It will not restore your hearing to normal, but hopefully it will help you to hear some of the sounds that you have been missing out on.
The hearing aid is able to discriminate between noise and speech; the hearing aid is programmed to make speech sounds clearer. Therefore if you are in a noisy environment the hearing aid will focus on the sounds in front of you making face-to-face conversations, in noise, easier.
Please remember that in noisy places it will always be more difficult to hear even when you are wearing a hearing aid. And that no hearing aid will completely eliminate background noise.
If you have two hearing aids, both should be worn together. The hearing aids are programmed to work together and provide synchronisation. The hearing aids adjust themselves simultaneously providing you with a more natural stereo sound quality.
Here are a couple of videos explaining a little about hearing aids and their use. (with thanks to our colleagues at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the Nottingham University NHS trust).
How to use your hearing aid:
Please see below a series of useful links and videos to help you use, maintain and fix any issues with your hearing aid:
Using the program button (if activated):
Getting used to hearing with your hearing aid:
Helping others to help you hear better:
How to look after your hearing aid:
Inserting your Hearing aid (Minifit tubing)
Cleaning your Minifit tubing
My hearing aid is not working properly (what to do):
Common problems with hearing aids using (Minifit tubing)
Further equipment that may work with your hearing aid
Please note: these are not provided by your audiology department, but may be available from social care, access to work or to purchase privately. Your audiologist can discuss these with you.