What is the First Experience with a Hearing Aid Like?

Hearing aids are an incredible innovation for those experiencing different types of hearing loss.  The first time using them can seem daunting, but Coastal Hearing Care is here to help you decide on the right pair of hearing aids and know what to expect!

Hearing Aid Fitting

One of the most important things to do is ensure that you have the right hearing aids.  There are several different kinds to choose from but the main three types are in-the-ear (ITE) which sit in the outer bowls of your ear, in-the-canal (ITC) which sit in your actual ear canals, and finally, behind-the-ear (BTE) that use a box behind your ears with a plastic tube that connects to an ear mold.  Your decision will be based on your budget, lifestyle, comfort, and severity of hearing loss.

The first week of wearing your new hearing aids can be overwhelming.  You’ll be able to hear sounds you couldn’t before and things will be louder.  Luckily, most hearing aids have settings that can adjust your volume and easily turn off to take breaks as needed.  To get used to them we suggest starting by wearing them solely at home.  This is a comfortable environment that you can use to ease into new sounds with.  Adjusting to sounds around the house that you can control will make the experience less daunting.  We also recommend starting with a few hours at a time, rather than wearing them from morning to night.  Slowly start adding in new situations and environments, and remind friends and family that you are still navigating your new noisier world!  Some of the incredible things that happen to our patients once they adjust to their hearing aids include enjoying music and new hobbies, a feeling of safety in daily situations, more confidence, and conversations with everyone around you!

Coastal Hearing Care has been voted #1 in both Manatee and Sarasota for good reason.  Our knowledgeable staff is here to assist you with a multitude of services such as hearing aid repairs, hearing aid evaluation, earmolds and earplugs, hearing aid fitting, digital hearing aids, and musician and sports noise protection.  If you need hearing aids or any services, feel free to give us a call at (941) 229-2122!