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2. Listen outside; quiet & traffic
Go outside to a quiet place, e.g., the park or woods. Listen to the environmental sounds.
Do you recognise them?Please be careful with sounds from heavy traffic at this stage of
getting used to your instrument. Sometimes it sounds very loud.
Try not to get frightened.
3. Have a conversation with a single person
Use your instrument in conversation with one person, a family member or a friend.
Move to a quiet spot. Explain that you are now wearing a hearing instrument. Ask the
other person to talk normally. Look at your conversation partner. If your instrument is
tuned to your requirements you will be able to communicate better than before.
4. Listen to radio or television
Listen to the radio or television. Start with the news, then turn to another program. Ask
a ‘normal hearing’ person to set the volume of your radio or television to a comfortable
level. If necessary, adjust the volume on your hearing instrument.
If you cannot understand the radio or television, ask your hearing care practitioner to
adjust your hearing instrument. He or she is able to inform you on other facilities, such
as an induction loop system at home for your radio or television.
Eight steps towards better hearing
You need to get used to your new hearing instrument. Sounds seem new and different.
That is because you grew accustomed to your diminished hearing. Therefore, familiar
sounds seem strange or unnatural at first. Every first-time user of a hearing instrument
responds differently to this. Some can wear the new instrument a whole day right from
the start, while others find it hard to get used to.
After a while, you will notice you appreciate hearing with a hearing instrument and that
you will find it quite normal. Below, eight steps are described that will guide you through
the initial period. If you are not satisfied or keep experiencing problems, please consult
your hearing care practitioner.
1. Get used to familiar sounds at home
Try to get used to the new sounds from a familiar environment. Listen to the different
(background) sounds and try to recognise them. When you are tired from listening, rem-
ove your instrument and pause for a while. Talk or read aloud for a while. In that way you
will familiarise yourself with the sound of your own voice. Gradually, you will learn to use
the instrument for longer and become more comfortable with it.
