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),  and replacing the batteries. Our hearing aids come with either 2 or 4 environmental settings. Test the environmental settings by pressing on the battery door (Melody™ hearing aids) or pressing the button on the outside of the hearing aid (digi-Ear™ hearing aids)
  
  
• Your own voice may sound too loud or it may sound like you are talking in a barrel. This is called the occlusion effect and is very common for new hearing aid users. It takes the brain about 4-6 weeks to naturally compensate for these sound and gradually filter them out so you don't notice them. Please be patient.
  
  
• 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 any 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 moisture.
  
  
• Replace dead batteries immediately.
  
  
• Clean hearing aids as instructed. With the Melody Behind the Ear hearing aids it is very important you run the filament through the tube at least once a week.
  
  
• Do not use hairspray or other hair care products while wearing hearing aids.
  
  
• Turn off hearing aids when they are not in use by opening the battery door.
  
  
• Keep replacement batteries and small aids away from children and pets.