Adapting your hearing aids

Adapting your hearing aids

Why can adaptation take time?

  • The brain must adapt: Our brain needs time to get used to this new input of sound information. It must relearn how to process and interpret sounds that had become familiar in their absence or distortion.
  • Sounds are amplified: Hearing aids amplify sounds, including those we no longer hear or notice. This can create a feeling of overstimulation at first.
  • New sounds appear: Environmental noises, like wind noise or rustling clothes, may seem louder and more distinct. This can be confusing at first.
  • Own voice may sound different: The perception of our own voice may change with a hearing aid, because we will hear it differently through the device.

Tips to make adaptation easier

  • Wear your hearing aid regularly: The more you wear them, the quicker your brain will get used to them.
  • Start gradually: Start by wearing your hearing aid for a few hours a day and gradually increase the duration.
  • Be patient: Adaptation may take several weeks or even months.
  • Talk to your hearing care professional: Do not hesitate to contact your hearing care professional if you encounter any difficulties or have any questions.

In summary

Adapting to a hearing aid is an individual process that can take time. It is important to remember that these sensations are normal and will gradually subside. With time and patience, you will be able to reap the full benefits of your new hearing.

The advantages of a BINAURAL fitting

The advantages of a BINAURAL fitting

  • Better localization of sounds

Allows you to better reconize and clearly locate sound sources and sources of danger, which is, for example, necessary to determine the direction of an approaching car.

  • More focused listening

Ambient and background noise can interfere with concentration. Wearing two hearing aids will help you concentrate better on conversations while forgetting background noise.

  • Hearing balance

Wearing hearing aids on the left and the right allows the sound to be better balanced on each side. This guarantees better perception of noise and, more generally, better acoustic comfort.

  • The importance of acting quickly

We want an optimal hearing aids fitting. If one of the ear is not fitted, speech understanding continues to weaken in that ear and can only be recovered slowly.

In conclusion, two ears are better than one.

Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Pediatric Hearing Aid Fitting

Hearing aids play a crucial role for children with hearing loss.

Here is an overview of the important aspects to consider…

Hearing loss in a child can be detected very early in the child’s development by a Neonatal screening test or Pediatric hearing test: see the article on hearing tests in children (June article).

Parents and family must be informed and trained to support the child on a daily basis and in their learning. The sooner hearing loss is detected, the sooner the child will adapt.

There is of course collaboration with teachers to ensure that the child benefits from a suitable learning environment, either through preferential placement, or the wearing of a specific adapted system.

Benefits and Challenges

Benefits: Improved communication, language development, and social integration.

Challenges: Device acceptance, managing settings and maintenance, and sometimes social stigma.

Now with Bluetooth connectivity: Allows you to connect hearing aids to devices like smartphones and tablets for better access to hearing resources. The child will have to have regular audiological follow-ups to ensure that the fit of the hearing aids is adequate at all times.

In short, hearing aids offer valuable assistance for the development of hearing-impaired children. Early diagnosis, rigorous follow-up, and comprehensive support are essential to maximize the benefits of hearing aids.

*An evaluation by an audioprosthesist is required to determine if the hearing aid is suitable for the patient’s needs.

Never too young for a hearing test

Never too young for a hearing test

In our modern society, hearing health is often neglected, especially among younger people. However, it is never too early to take a hearing test. Hearing problems can appear from birth and can have lasting consequences on a child’s development.

Babies learn about the world primarily through sounds. Impaired hearing can slow language development, cause learning difficulties and affect social interactions. Early screening helps detect these problems before they hinder a child’s development.

Hearing tests for newborns are simple, quick and painless. They generally consist of measuring the brain’s auditory responses to sounds emitted by a small earphone placed in the baby’s ear. If a problem is detected, further examinations may be carried out to assess the nature and severity of the disorder.

It is crucial that parents and healthcare professionals recognize the importance of these tests. Early detection and rapid intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s life. Hearing aids, therapies and educational supports can be implemented to help the child reach their full potential.

In conclusion, every child deserves to start life with every opportunity on their side. A simple hearing test can pave the way to a more promising and fulfilling future. Because when it comes to hearing health, it’s never too young to start.

Dementia: hearing loss could accelerate cognitive decline

Dementia: hearing loss could accelerate cognitive decline

Welcome to our monthly column

Hearing loss could accelerate the cognitive decline that accompanies dementia, says a study. Wearing a hearing aid could therefore slow this decline, which reminds us of the importance of ensuring maximum stimulation of the brain to optimize the chances of maintaining health.

Download the article