Hearing Aids For The First Time | Things You MUST Know!

Dr. Clifford Olson, Audiologist from Anthem Arizona, tells you what to expect when receiving hearing aids for the first time.

Receiving your first set of hearing aids does not have to be a scary experience. In fact, it should be an exciting experience that leads you to better hearing. Here are the 7 things you should expect when receiving your first set of hearing aids.

1. Expect the Fitting to take around an Hour. Proper fitting and programming takes time.

2. People won't notice the hearing aids. Likely the only thing they will notice is you hearing them better.

3. Things will sound different. Some of it may be annoying, but will get better.

4. You will hear yourself differently. You likely haven't heard yourself at the correct level for a long time. It takes your brain time to adjust to the new level of sound.

5. You will probably forget you are wearing hearing aids. Aids are really comfortable.

6. Expect to see your hearing care professional several times. You can't fit a hearing aid well with only one visit. Make sure you get more than one visit.

[DrCliffAuD]

What questions do you have about trying hearing aids for the first time?

[CurlyQLink]

I am a 60 year old male and just got my first pair of (behind the ear) hearing aids. A lot of what was said in this video was spot-on. My hearing loss was the result of a car accident (I was a passenger and my head hit the windshield) back in 1975. Funny, that I did not realize how bad my hearing was until a year or so ago when several people were telling me that I was not listening to them; however, I was listening to them. The problem was, I was not hearing everything that was being said. Now, I can hear all of the beautiful things in the world that I have been missing for the past 40+ years.

[ryanrogers]

im 27 and getting hearing aids in 2 days due to not protecting my ears in noisy environments. i have around a 30% loss compared to someone aged 30 with good hearing. I have been through a rough patch in life recently and discovering how bad my hearing is after a test has hit home. that bein said this video has properly helped my anxieties, not only answered some of my questions but made my actually look forward to my appointment. thank you :)

[arm]

Had my first experience with a hearing aid today at my hospital. They programed an phonak marvel for my needs (moderate - severe mixed loss) in my left ear, and it was an amazing experience. It was like someone just, opened my ear up and I could hear❤️ they gave me a perception, and I headed down to the nearest provider that does REM, had a custom mold made for the tip, and it should be here in 5-10 business days. I am beyond excited, I was so sad when they had to take out the test one at the hospital.

[rudyenter]

You are a real pro, Dr. Cliff! These are down-to-earth, encouraging points. Love your channel.

[oskarmolly]

I've been wearing my first pair for a couple of weeks. My family is noticing the changes a lot, I now don't have the radio on so loud that they could hear it from the street. I do notice other changes my dog sounds like a horse when he walks across the floor, and I can hear water running through the pipes. I forget that I have them on most of the time now but some things sound so different than it used to. I knew for a long time that I was having big issues when someone was talking to the side of me, I thought they were whispering and it made me crazy and they were in a quite room but I could only see their lips moving. I had one appt. where I took several tests, and then came back a few weeks later and was fitted for them, and now I go back again in a few weeks to see if they need adjusting and will take another hearing test. She said I go back again after a few months to see how they are doing and how I am doing with hearing. I was so afraid that I would have these big things on my ears where everyone would see them, no one sees them at all. My hair covers it and I doubt if anyone is going to be looking into my ears to look for the wires. They are almost invisible. Thanks for your videos it has helped me so much.

[Pat]

This advice/info is A1! I got my HAs last month before I saw any of these vids. I knew nothing about hearing aids and the first weeks were hard for the reasons outlined here. I nearly gave up because of the intense itching, discomfort and the annoying sounds I hadn't heard in years (yes, crackling papers! LOL!) Now I put them in first thing in the morning, and last night I really did get into bed with them, only realizing it when I put my head on the pillow. Patience and persistence is primary to get used to them and then you will learn to love them.

[jackieream]

Getting my first ones within the week I’m nervous and excited this was helpful!

[brooklyngillies]

Well, recently I have really struggled with my hearing and my dad has booked a hearing test and my friend thinks that I am going to have to get them because it’s just simple day to day conversations I struggle with so thank you for telling me what to expect if I am going to have to get them.

[courttacos]

Ah yes I remember my first day of having them. It was in 2nd grade and there was a fire drill the first day I took them to school. I had to go to the nurse because it was so loud and I was crying. Had to go home 😂😂😂

[Afterimage_Rush]

Dr. Cliff, thanks for your videos! I have found them very useful! I got my Oticon hearing aid last week. I was worried because they did not work properly. I went back to my doctor, adjustments were made based on my feedback and now it is a whole big difference. Starting the process to get used to them. Thanks!

[Hislittlelamb]

This was such helpful advice, thank you Dr. Cliff. I just got my first pair the beginning of this month and I keep hearing an unnatural (to me) sound of paper crumbling or like stepping on dried leaves. Good to know that's normal & not a defect in the programming. I have 2 pugs. I knew they were noisy even with my hearing loss, but didn't realize just how loud their breathing/panting sounds & the sound of their claws against the wood floors. So glad I didn't get a Conure (small parrot) I was considering as a pet or I'd be in a world of hurt right now.

[kevindurant]

I’m 15 years old and I think I have high frequency hearing loss. I struggle to understand people when there’s background noise and it’s also difficult at times for me to understand someone on speaker phone. I told my mom I need to see an audiologist but she said first we have to go to my regular doctor to get a referral to an audiologist. The only thing I’m worried about is that I know i can pass my regular doctors hearing test because I do it for my yearly checkups. It seems to me like those hearing test you get at your check ins aren’t very accurate they are just to see if your ears work or not. I hope that the doctor believes me that I’m having trouble and gives me a referral.

[dmoore]

Since I am looking into hearing aids for the first time, and being an engineer, I decided I'd see what text books were out there on audiology. I found several ebooks samples, one of which is "Modern Hearing Aids, Verification, Outcome Measures, and Follow-up". There was a study done where 2 groups of participants were fitted with hearing aids for evaluation purposes. One group was told they were getting the latest technology and one was told they were getting older technology. After a trial period, both groups turned in the hearing aids, and were given the exact ones back but told the opposite. The groups rated what they were told was the latest technology as better even though the devices were the same.

Now lets say I receive loaners to subjectively compare the performance of an Oticon OPN 2 and OPN 3 and find the OPN 2 sounds better.

There are therefore what I see as 3 possibilities:

1. From the above study the OPN 2 sounds better because I think it should
2. The OPN 2 features are actually a benefit in my situation
3. The provider makes more profit on OPN 2 and therefore did not properly adjust the OPN 3 to bias my selection

How can I know which one of these is true?

[pmhnic]

I have just started wear my new behind the ear hearing aids. My wife came in from work and I spoke to her for a few minutes face to face and she never noticed them. It will take some time to get use to hearing sounds I didn't know I was missing, especially the sound of breathing and blowing while playing the flute. They are sounds you hear while playing that others don't hear so they are somewhat distracting.

[isofrata]

Thank you very much Dr
Your videos are very helpful and encouraging

[rick]

Am spending some time watching your videos this afternoon...I'm a newbie myself at a very young(in my book, ) 65...cheers..rr

[dietdaybydaydiet]

Thanks you so much really your YouTube hellp
me a lot with the information you give out it’s going to be my first time for hearingAid and I got all what I need to know from you
Thanks you from my heart
Best for you

[lorrainemclellan]

I got my KS10.0T hearing aids 5 days ago. I had to have molds attached as I have a hole in my eardrum in my left ear. They are behind the ear hearing aids. The trouble is the mold on my right hearing aid hurts my ear, I can only keep it in my ear for approximately 30 mins or so as my ear gets very very sore. I am seeing my audiologist next week so hopefully she'll be able to fix it. I must say I manage quite well with 1 hearing aid but we'll see what she can do. Other than that I'm quite pleased with them.

[nancyful]

I love all the información that you give to us you are very professional .the bad thing is I only understand part of what you said my English is not good enough and I would like to see a least this video with Spanish subtitles 😿thanks