How long does it take to get used to new hearing aids?
Most people get used to new hearing aids in about two to four weeks of daily wear, and the brain keeps adjusting for up to about three months. The first few days are the strangest: everyday sounds seem loud and your own voice may sound different. Both are normal and fade as your brain re-learns to hear.
The single most important thing is to wear the hearing aids every day. People who wear them only now and then take much longer to adjust.
Why do sounds seem so loud with new hearing aids?
Sounds seem loud with new hearing aids because your brain has not heard them clearly for years. Hearing loss usually comes on slowly, so the brain gets used to a quieter world. When the hearing aids bring back sounds like the fan, the fridge, footsteps, paper rustling and traffic, the brain at first treats them all as important. Within a few weeks it learns to push the unimportant sounds into the background again.
Your audiologist may also start you on slightly softer settings and increase them step by step as you adjust.
Why does my own voice sound strange with hearing aids?
Your own voice can sound strange with hearing aids — hollow, booming or “as if speaking in a barrel” — because the ear canal is partly closed by the dome or earmould. This is called the occlusion effect. Many people get used to it within a few days. If it does not settle, your audiologist can change the dome, add or widen a vent, or adjust the settings.
Hearing your voice through a microphone is also new; most people dislike their recorded voice at first for the same reason.
What is a good week-by-week plan for new hearing aids?
A good week-by-week plan for new hearing aids builds up from quiet places to noisy ones:
| Week | Where to wear them | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | At home, in quiet rooms | A few hours a day, increasing daily. Talk with one person at a time; listen to the TV at a normal volume. |
| Week 2 | At home and on short outings | Most of the day. Phone calls, conversation at meals, walks outside. |
| Week 3 | Shops, markets, family gatherings | All waking hours. Notice which places are still difficult. |
| Week 4 | Busier and noisier places | All day, every day. Note any problems for your follow-up visit. |
If you feel tired or overwhelmed, take a short break in a quiet room and put the hearing aids back in. Listening is work for the brain at first; this tiredness passes.
Should I wear my hearing aids all day?
Yes. You should aim to wear your hearing aids all day, from waking up to bedtime, by the end of the first month. Wearing them only “when needed” keeps the brain switching between two different ways of hearing, which slows down adjustment. Take them off for bathing, swimming and sleeping.
What if my new hearing aids are uncomfortable?
If your new hearing aids are uncomfortable, tell your audiologist rather than quietly giving up on them. A little awareness of something in the ear is normal for a few days, but soreness, itching, pain or a hearing aid that keeps slipping out are not — if they hurt, take them out and get them adjusted. Usually the dome size, earmould shape or wire length needs a small change.
What follow-up do I need after getting hearing aids?
You need at least one follow-up visit after getting hearing aids, usually after the first one to two weeks of wear, so the audiologist can fine-tune the settings based on your experience. Bring notes: which sounds are too loud or too soft, where you struggle, and how your voice sounds.
At Fairfield Hearing Clinics, follow-up visits, fine-tuning and cleaning are free for two years after you buy your hearing aids from us. Your fitting is also checked with Real Ear Measurement (REM) — a thin probe microphone in the ear canal that measures what the hearing aid actually delivers — so the starting point is right for your ears.
How can family members help someone with new hearing aids?
Family members can help someone with new hearing aids by:
- Facing the person and speaking clearly at a normal pace — not shouting
- Reducing background noise, such as turning down the TV during conversation
- Encouraging daily wear and noticing improvements out loud
- Helping with handling at first — inserting, charging and cleaning
- Coming to the follow-up visit to share what they notice
When should I call the clinic?
You should call the clinic if, after two to four weeks of daily wear, sounds are still too loud, speech is not clear, your voice still sounds very strange, the hearing aids whistle often, or they hurt. These are usually solved with simple adjustments. Call us on the number at the top of this page or book a follow-up.
Is it worth sticking with hearing aids?
Yes. Treating hearing loss makes conversation easier, reduces listening fatigue, and helps you stay socially active. Research has also linked untreated hearing loss in middle age to a higher risk of dementia — see hearing loss and dementia. The first few weeks are the hardest part; most people who persist are glad they did.
