New hearing Aid Users - Helpful Hints

• Become familiar with your hearing aid. The hearing aid may appear quite small and "fiddly" to use at first. Be sure to practice putting in and taking out the aid(s), adjusting volume control, cleaning, and replacing the batteries.
  
  
• Your own voice may sound too loud. This is called the occlusion effect and is very common for new hearing aid users. An audiologist may or may not be able to correct this problem; however, most people get used to it over time.
  
  
• Your hearing aid may "whistle." When this happens, you are experiencing feedback, which is caused by the fit of the hearing aid or by the buildup of earwax or fluid. Make sure your ears are clear of wax, and the tip is not clogged. Try inserting it and seating it a few times until the "whistle goes away.
  
  
• You may hear background noise. Keep in mind that a hearing aid does not completely separate the sounds you want to hear from the ones you do not want to hear. You will become used to this in time and your brain will often filter this noise out such that you don't even notice it.

• The following suggestions will help you care for your hearing aids:
  
  
• Keep hearing aids away from heat and moisture.
  
  
• Replace dead batteries immediately.
  
  
• Clean hearing aids as instructed.
  
  
• Do not use hairspray or other hair care products while wearing hearing aids.
  
  
• Turn off hearing aids when they are not in use.
  
  
• Keep replacement batteries and small aids away from children and pets.