1. Gain Experience: Begin your training program in a familiar environment, such as your home. After you have familiarized yourself with how your hearing aids work and the operating instructions, try them on and try communicating with just one person in a relatively quiet environment. You can gradually add to the complexity of your environment by introducing slight background noise, and communicating with more and more individuals. Try to avoid noisy environments initially.

2. Increase your Wearing Time: On the first day, try to avoid wearing your hearing aids for more than 2-4 hours. Gradually lengthen the time you wear them, until after a few weeks you are able to wear them all day without noticing them. Wear them at home so that you are able to hear the doorbell, telephone, etc.

3. Adapt the Volume to the Situation: Generally, more modern hearing aids automatically select a pre-programmed, acceptable volume level when they are turned on, and do not require any further adjustments if they do not have a volume control. Do not set the volume too high if you have a volume control. This may result in distortion rather than improved understanding. Do not expect to hear soft voices over a big distance, as even individuals with normal hearing would have difficulty as well. As you become more and more comfortable with the hearing aids, you may adjust the volume controls when you feel you need increased loudness.

4. The Hearing Instrument: An Extension of your Body: Similar to glasses or contact lenses, your hearing aids should become and extension of your body. As you become more adapted to them, this will occur naturally. If you feel discomfort, consult the hearing aid clinic.

5. Make Allowances for the Effects of Fatigue: You may become easily tired as you hear more with your hearing aids, and they may even make you irritable. If this happens, take a break from wearing them. You can train yourself to become used to wearing hearing aids, however, you cannot force yourself. The decisive factors in the success of wearing hearing aids are a positive attitude and a desire to better understand what is being said.

6. Learn to be an Effective Listener: With your new hearing aids, it should now be easier to hear well and effectively communicate in most listening situations. It is still necessary for you to be an effective listener. Even individuals with normal hearing have to concentrate on what they want to hear and ignore other ongoing sounds. Try to identify any sounds you do not recognize when you first start to wear your hearing aids. Practice concentrating on the sounds and/or voices that you want to hear while trying to ignore the sounds you feel are less important. When you are surrounded by many different sounds, try to shift your attention from one sound to another.

7. Adjust to your Own Voice: Initially, you may not recognize the sound of your own voice, or you may feel your vocal qualities have changed. It is very important that you hear your own voice so that you can control and correct the diction and volume of your voice properly.

8. Living With Noise: The world is a very noisy place. By concentrating on the sounds individuals with normal hearing wish to hear, often they are able to suppress background noises. If you have had a hearing loss for several years, you may have lost this ability. Your hearing aids will reintroduce you to many sounds that you may have forgotten (clock ticking, paper being crumpled, running water, clicking of shoes on the floor, children laughing, birds singing, etc.). Not all the sounds that you hear will be pleasant. Practice concentrating on what you wish to hear. If your hearing aids have multiple programs, ensure that you are on a program that is best for a particular situation.

9. Taking Part in Discussions: Even individuals with normal hearing have difficulty communicating when there are several people talking at once. It will help you to communicate if you move closer to the individual that you want to hear. You will be able to concentrate better. With practice, this situation will improve over time.

10. Visiting Public Places: Theatres, churches, conferences, and other public places will present a challenge for the hearing aid user. It is helpful to sit where the acoustical conditions are best. Try to sit in close proximity to the speaker so that you are able to see their face. Many buildings are equipped with assistive listening devices for the hearing-impaired. Enquire if the room you are in has any.

11. Listening to the Radio or Television: Concentrate on trying to follow the overall meaning rather than individual words. Certain assistive listening devices can be helpful.

12. Using the Telephone: There are several different ways to better understand speech via the telephone. A special anti-feedback pad may be required. If you have a Behind the Ear instrument, the microphone is at the top of the ear. With an In the Ear instrument, the microphone is closer to the ear canal. If feedback or whistling occurs, try to hold the receiver further away. Find the position where the signal is the clearest and the strongest.

13. Two Ears are Better than one: There are many advantages to wearing two hearing aids, if possible. The benefits of hearing with both ears include; more natural hearing because our auditory system is designed to receive sound input from two ears, improved ability to determine the direction of a sound source, greater ability to hear and understand in noisy environments, richer and smoother sound quality, easier and more relaxed listening, and less volume is required for each ear. Refer to the section on the benefits of two hearing aids for more information.

Your success with your hearing instrument in the initial stages is the foundation of your hearing lifestyle. Once you have completed these steps, you will become ready to get the most out of your hearing aids. Ensure that you consult and read your manual carefully and do not hesitate to contact our office should you require additional information or any clarification.