Hearing loss support - adjusting to new HA

Author

adjusting to new HA

trekker62

2006-06-19, 4:26 pm

Hello,
I have been trying to get my new aids adjusted for quite a while now. I
have a conductive loss that is very severe. Adjusting to the new aids has
been difficult and there are a few things I just don't like. I hate the way
loud noises are chopped off. The clapping of hands, a balloon popping, and
flipping a light switch all sound the same to me. And there is a tinnyness
that makes music sound odd and out of tune. I just hate going to the
audiologists and sounding so picky. Sometimes I think I am being to picky,
then other times I Just don't know. I am so confused. My brain just
doesn't know how it's supposed to process things anymore. Any suggestions?
Or experience? I am sure my audiologist is becoming frustrated as am I.

Ken

2006-06-20, 2:27 am

What you are experiencing is normal. If you search the group you will
find dozens of people reporting much the same.

Your brain will adapt - it is receiving information which it has not
had for some time and if you persist you will find that, within a week
or two, all these concussions lose their edge. Eventually everything
will sound much more normal.

I wore my new aids all the time (well - not while sleeping) and this
hastened the adjustment pricess. Others have given themselves a break
now and then but have still successfully made the adustment.

There is a steep learning curve you have to negotiate - your
audiologist should have warned you about this (though, come to think of
it, I don't think mine did - one of my first experiences was boarding
an electric train -you can imagine how that sounded!).

And don't hesitate to go back to your audiologist - his/her objective
is to see you make a satisfactory transition. And many people find that
their hearing aids need some adjustment (though you should get over the
initial learning procss before you fiddle with settings - a good audie
would have them about right in the initial fitting).