We at Torrance Audiology are dedicated to being your partners in your hearing loss journey, and that includes supporting you after you receive your new hearing aids. Hearing aids are incredible pieces of technology that will benefit you greatly, but the adjustment period can require some patience. Let’s discuss what the adjustment period feels like and how you can manage it.
Information Overload
Studies have found that people often wait years before seeking treatment for hearing loss, even when they know they have hearing loss symptoms. Leaving hearing loss untreated for that long doesn’t make the issue go away; rather, it desensitizes the brain to receiving less sound information than it should. Our ears gather sound information, but it is the brain that truly hears. It is in the brain—specifically, the auditory cortex, in the temporal lobe—that sound is perceived and understood. With untreated hearing loss, the auditory cortex grows weak.
When you start wearing hearing aids for the first time (or even when you upgrade to a new, more powerful pair of hearing aids), the weakened auditory cortex is suddenly overloaded with sound information that it had been missing this whole time. It’s a lot like working out for the first time in a long time: your muscles are going to feel overworked, and you’ll probably be sore in the morning. When your brain is “sore,” it manifests as fatigue.
Tips for Managing Tiredness
As stated above, the adjustment period requires some patience. Your brain is going to be tired in the first week or so after you start wearing your hearing aids; that’s normal and somewhat unavoidable. The good news is that the adjustment period isn’t long, and once the auditory complex is back “in shape,” you won’t have to deal with this tiredness or mental fatigue. Here are some tips on how to get through this phase.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Keep to situations that are less stimulating for the first few days with hearing aids. Avoid going into crowded areas or noisy places. Your brain is already overwhelmed with the influx of sound information; no need to make it even greater.
- Get enough sleep. Help your brain maintain its energy levels by getting enough sleep. If you feel extra tired, consider taking a midday nap or going to bed earlier.
- Wear your hearing aids for as long as you can. As you adjust to your hearing aids, you may struggle to wear them all day, every day at first. However, challenge yourself to wear them for as long as possible, and try to wear them longer every day than you did the day before. You’ll get through the adjustment period faster if you persevere.
- Expect tiredness and frustration. Knowing the reasons behind your fatigue can help you be compassionate with yourself and honest with others. Now that you know that tiredness is a part of adjusting to your hearing aids, it won’t take you by surprise.
You should have scheduled a follow-up appointment with your audiologist. At this appointment, you can bring up any concerns you have about fatigue or other adjustments. You can also call us before your appointment if you need advice. We know that adjusting to hearing aids can be difficult, but it’s worth it for the clear hearing you’ll get once you’ve adapted.
