Before I had my first hearing aid impression made, I had never put anything into my ear. Maybe a Q-tip, occasionally, before that was proven to do more harm than good, but never a gel that would harden into a 3-D model of my ear canal’s twists and turns. And never anything solid, for 10+ hours a day, everyday, forever.
My audiologist was gentle, but having the mold taken was painful. As the gel hardened, all sound receded leaving only a growing feeling of pressure and doom. I barely made it home before I began to cry. “Is this what it is like to wear hearing aids,” I wondered.
Thankfully, it is not.
Using Hearing Aids Gets Easier with Time
Hearing aids require an adjustment period.
At first you may be intensely aware of something strange in or atop your ear, but after a few weeks, this feeling usually goes away. It may take some trial and error to get the shape of the mold exactly right so that it fits both snugly and comfortably or to find the proper length of tubing so the dome stays in the ear when you are chewing or talking.
Once fit properly, your hearing aids should feel almost like a second skin, one that you hardly notice. You may even forget that you are wearing them. If the devices are ever painful, return to your hearing care professional for an adjustment.
Adjusting is More Than Just Physical
It takes more than getting used to wearing something in or on your ear to get the most out of your hearing devices. Our brain needs to adapt too.
Things may seem very loud for a while. You may also discover sounds you have been missing or never heard before. Some—like birdcalls or the sound of the wind in the trees—can be wonderful. Others, like the sound of the refrigerator, can be irritating, especially before your brain learns to ignore them. Training your brain takes time. Wearing your hearing aids as much as possible and in a variety of situations will help speed up the process.
You will quickly realize that while hearing aids are a critical tool for communication, they are not enough in many situations. You will need to use other strategies too. These include other technology tools like remote microphones and speech-to-text apps, but also non-technical skills like self-identifying as a person with hearing loss and using communication best practices. For more details, refer to our book Hear & Beyond: Live Skillfully with Hearing Loss.
Feeling Grateful for My Hearing Aids
Flash forward 20 years and I am back in the audiologist’s chair having impressions taken—this time for swim-plugs. It was a breeze. Not only did I know what to expect, but my ears were more accustomed to being poked, prodded and filled with other materials.
Today my hearing aids are as much a part of me as my favorite anklet or my glasses. I hardly perceive them, and when I do, a quick adjustment often returns them to the background of my mind. They are my lifeline to the world of communication and keep me connected to the people and activities that I love. I am very grateful for them.
Readers, how would you describe wearing hearing aids?
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!
I have had several hearing aids over the years and have been fitted for ear molds several times. I found that the molds hurt a little on the first day. I concluded that the gel may “stretch” the ear a little when the measurement is made. The hurt goes away and I’m glad to have a good fit.
Interesting theory. I am glad they are a good fit in the end. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
am not familiar with swim plugs – i avoid swimming as i am concerned about potential swimmer’s ear or length of time for ears to dry to reinsert my HA. do they keep your ears dry? thank you!
They work well for me and keep my ears dry. My audiologist ordered them specifically as swim plugs. Thank you for your question.