4 Things Every New Hearing Aid Owner Needs To Know

If you're getting ready to receive your first hearing aid, you'll need to spend some time with your audiologist to learn how to take care of it. Not only do you need to learn how to care for it, you also need to understand how you can get the most hearing benefit from it. Here are a few things that you should know when you bring home that first hearing aid.

You'll Need a Battery Tester

Hearing aid batteries usually last a couple of weeks at a time, but you may have a hard time determining when the battery is getting ready to fail, especially at first. Having a battery tester on hand will make it easy for you to check the strength of the battery any time you're wondering. This is great, because changing the battery before it fails completely will save you from potentially difficult situations if the battery dies in mid-conversation.

You Have to Keep Your Ears Clean

Wax buildup in your ear can clog the hearing aid, which will muffle the sound transfer. Keep your ears as clean as possible, and clean the hearing aid regularly, too. The more attentive you are to this, the less risk you'll have of damaging the hearing aid from wax clogs.

You Should Ask for a Listening Tube

Before you leave the audiologist, ask him or her for a listening tube to bring home. These tubes allow you to test the sound quality from the hearing aid. This will help you to spot problems with the hearing aid such as inconsistent amplification. The sound you hear through the tube should be clear and free of fluctuation or scratching.

You'll Want to Steer Clear of Feedback

Feedback occurs any time a sound is amplified so much that the hearing aid's microphone picks it up again coming out of the speaker. That sends the sound back into the hearing aid as though it were new sound input. When that occurs, it typically creates a loud whistling sound, which can hurt your ear. Keep the earpiece fitted securely and adjust the volume so that you can hear, but it isn't excessive. Those are the best ways to reduce the occurrences of feedback.

If you've been struggling to hear for a long time, the difference you'll find with that new hearing aid is likely to be staggering. With the tips here, you'll not only be able to enjoy the improved hearing, but also understand how to keep it that way. Visit a hearing aid dealer like Abingdon Falls Plaza Hearing Center if you have questions.