New hearing aids? FAQs for (nearly) all you need to know

Hearing aids are small electronic devices that fit around or in your ear. In very basic terms, they come in three parts: A microphone that picks up the sound around you, a processor that amplifies the sound to precise levels for your unique hearing loss, and a speaker that delivers that sound into your ear. Want to learn more? Here's a detailed look at the parts of a hearing aid.

Hearing aid adjustment period

For some people, yes. But for most people—especially if you had untreated hearing loss for a long time—it will take some time to adapt. That's because your brain has to get used to all the new sounds it had forgotten due to auditory deprivation (including how your own voice sounds at full amplification). Unlike new eyeglasses that may only take a few minutes to get used to, hearing aids have a longer "getting acquainted" period.

During their first hearing aid experience, most people receive instructions from their hearing care provider on how to get used to their hearing aids; for example, working up from wearing them for a few hours a day to all day. Be patient, and follow your hearing professional's guidance for when/where to wear them. If you're still struggling to get used to yours after a few weeks, contact your hearing care provider.

We can't say it enough: Don't give up! Here's 7 tips for getting used to your new hearing aids.

And if you're feeling like you straight-up hate your hearing aids, well, we've got advice for you, too. 

It's not unsual to get a headache from wearing new hearing aids, but the effect is temporary. Expect your hearing aids to be comfortable. You should know they are there, but you should never experience ear pain, soreness, bleeding or skin irritation. If any of these occur, remove the hearing aids immediately and see your hearing care professional for an adjustment in fit. Your hearing care provider also can help with itchy ears, which hearing aids can sometimes cause but is easily treated.

Expect to be able to hear soft sounds once again and to be able to hear louder sounds comfortably. See a hearing care professional, however, if “normal loud” sounds, such as the roar of a car engine or a door slamming, are painful.

Don’t expect perfection. Hearing aids are not a “cure all," but are simply one tool to help you hear better. They are not a perfect replacement for normally-functioning ears. Although today’s hearing aids are miles above where they used to be, you might still have trouble hearing in certain situations, such as a noisy restaurant or at a party with a lot of background noise. Keep in mind that even people with very good hearing also still have trouble catching every word of a conversation in these environments. 

Once you get used to your hearing aids, it's important to wear them as much as you possibly can (except for activities like sleeping, showering or swimming, unless you got waterproof hearing aids). Otherwise you'll just prolong or restart your adjustment period, to the point you may never quite get used to them. Also, it's just plain good for your brain to have the full stimulation of your environment. While our society tends to dismiss hearing loss as normal, it's bad for your brain, especially over time. That's why hearing loss is linked to things cognitive decline. The more you can wear your hearing aids, the better. 

Yep, hearing aids have other health benefits beyond hearing. Research suggests that hearings aids delay the onset of dementia, reduce loneliness and likely reduce depression and anxiety, too. Ongoing research is exploring the relationship between hearing loss and dementia, and the role hearing aids play in preventing cognitive decline.

Hearing aids contain expensive computer chips and other microelectronics—you want to do your best to take care of them so they last a long time. They need regular cleaning and may need occasional servicing from your hearing care provider.

In general:

• Follow your hearing care provider's guidance for cleaning your hearing aids on a regular schedule.
• Ttry to develop smart habits about their safekeeping, so that you never leave your hearing aids in places where pets or kids can get to them (dogs especially). Disposable batteries are highly toxic to pets and people.

There are a plethora of hearing aid accessories that can help you protect your hearing aids.

No, hearing aids come in many types and styles, including over-the-counter. The most common style is one that sits behind the ear, but there are also completely in-the-ear styles that are so tiny they're nearly invisible. Some come with disposable batteries and some come with rechargeable batteries. The kind you wear depends on the type of hearing loss you have, your budget and your personal preferences.

First, check out our troubleshooting guide. Many hearing aid issues have simple fixes, such as cleaning out earwax. If neither of those things help, contact your hearing care provider. 

My hearing aids aren't playing well with my eyeglasses. What do I do?

You're in luck: We've got an article on wearing hearing aids and eyeglasses. Bottom line: It may take a bit of adjustment, but wearing hearing aids and eyeglasses together should not be uncomfortable.

That's probably hearing aid feedback, which can happen if the speaker gets to close to the microphone. Expect whistling (feedback) as you put your hearing aids in unless you turn them off while inserting. Here's why hearing aid feedback happens and what to do about it. 

Hearing aids are programmed to process sound in quiet environments, especially human speech. If you're a music lover, ask your hearing care provider for a custom music setting and you'll find music much more pleasant. You can also set up other custom hearing aid settings, such as for driving or working. 

Hopefully this is something you covered with your hearing care provider. Many new hearing aids come with tinnitus masking capabilities. Even without any fancy features, hearing aids often help people who have both hearing loss and tinnitus because hearing aids amplify the the sounds they want to hear while minimizing the sound they don't (the ringing in their ears). That said, medical experts are still not sure how or why tinnitus occurs, so you may need a multi-step treatment plan for your tinnitus, of which hearing aids play a big part.