While many audiologists recommend that people with newly prescribed hearing instruments wear them all day when they are first fitted with the devices, not everyone can do so comfortably. Some individuals find that their sudden ability to hear sounds that they have not heard in some time is a bit overwhelming. Due to the abrupt reintroduction of ambient sounds such as traffic noise, air-conditioner hum, and background conversation, some people feel inclined to remove their hearing instruments. However, hearing instrument wear need not be an all-or-nothing proposition. According to a study of seniors who reported being unsatisfied with their hearing instruments, a gradual increase in hearing instrument use over 30 days produced greater satisfaction among half of the study participants.
P.S. If you are getting used to wearing a hearing instrument for the first time, try wearing it for increasingly longer periods of time at home, where you can have more control over what you hear.
It is fine to only wear your new devices in comfortable situations and environments for the first few days. The more sounds you are able to recognize and filter out as well as identify as bothersome can help your audiologist make adjustments in your follow-up visits. For more information, please call EAR & HEARING CLINIC. We are registered members of the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. “Hear the Sounds of Life.”
