Elderly Care: Helping You Deal With the Dying Process
Adjusting To Life With Your New Hearing Aid
Julio Carr
Have you recently been fitted with a hearing aid for the first time? If so, you may find yourself struggling to adjust to the new way you hear things. This is especially true in cases of prolonged hearing loss. The good news is, there are several strategies that you can use to help you adjust to your new hearing aids. With the tips below, it won't be long at all before wearing your hearing aid becomes second nature.
Don't Be Afraid To Take It Slow
There is no rule that says you have to wear your hearing aid around the clock simply because you have it. If you find that you are overwhelmed by all of the new noises you are hearing or are having trouble adjusting to the way your hearing aid feels in your ear, simply limit the amount of time you wear your hearing aid. For instance, you may wish to wear your hearing aid for no more than a few hours at a time to begin with. As your comfort level increases, you can increase the length of time that your hearing aid remains in.
Remember Your Hearing Aids Won't Give You Super Powers
Your hearing aid is intended to amplify sound, however, it will not give you the ability to hear sounds that a healthy ear is unable to hear. For instance, turning your hearing aid all the way up will not allow you to hear someone speaking softly from across the room. Attempting to use your hearing aid in this way will only end up making it more difficult to hear, as ambient sounds are amplified to extremely high levels.
When participating in a conversation, turn your hearing aid down as low as you can while still allowing you to hear the person you are taking to. Then, simply ask this individual to speak in a clear manner from a distance of no more than a few feet. This will allow you to hear them clearly without overloading your senses in the process.
Talk To Your Doctor About The Problems You Are Experiencing
While some issues, such as basic discomfort, may simply be a matter of you adjusting to your new hearing aids, problems such as pain or a continued difficulty hearing could indicate the need for a different hearing aid all together. This is why it is so important for you to be open and honest with your doctor throughout the adjustment periods. This will allow a doctor like those at Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery Associates PC to help you find the perfect hearing aid for your specific needs and ensure that you are comfortable enough to actually use this hearing aid once you have it.
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As an elderly care worker, I have witnessed the deaths of many individuals. I have seen family members become angry, sad, and completely silent at the end. I have also seen individuals refuse to see family members out of denial. People deal with death in different ways, and the strong emotions are often unfamiliar and scary. If you have a parent or grandparent who is elderly, then I want to share with you what I know about end of life care and dying process. We are a society that does not talk about death, and this can cause great pain when a family member dies. Learn about the process and find out how to deal with your own emotions and how to love your family members at the end. If there is only a small amount of time left, then I want you to cherish the final moments.