Getting hearing aids is an exciting step toward better, easier connection, but it takes time for your brain to adjust to the new sounds around you. You might find that voices and background noises seem unfamiliar or even intrusive during the first few weeks.
The good news is that you can make the adjustment period easier with an activity you probably already enjoy: watching television.
Train Your Brain With Familiar Voices
Hearing aids could benefit as many as 28.8 million U.S. adults.[1] When you first get hearing aids, your brain needs to relearn how to recognize and interpret sounds that it may have been missing for months or years. The more consistently you wear your hearing aids, the faster your brain adapts.
Television provides an excellent listening environment because it offers different voices and a mishmash of background sounds. Whether you’re catching up on the local St. Louis news, enjoying your favorite comedy or watching a documentary, you’re giving your brain valuable listening practice in a comfortable setting. Turning on subtitles while you watch TV will further solidify your listening experience.
Improve Your Listening Experience
Many modern hearing aids include Bluetooth® technology that lets you stream TV audio directly to your devices. Instead of turning up the volume for everyone in the room, you can have the sound delivered straight to your hearing aids for a more personalized listening experience.
If your hearing aids don’t connect directly to your television, you may benefit from a TV streaming accessory that pairs with your devices and sends audio wirelessly.
To connect your devices to your TV, put your hearing aids in pairing mode by restarting them or placing them in their case with the lid open. Next, open TV’s Bluetooth® settings or the settings for your TV streaming accessory. Select your hearing aids from the list of available devices and complete the pairing process. For device-specific pairing instructions, check your hearing aid manual.
We’re Here to Help
Simple activities like watching television can make the transition to hearing aids feel more natural and build your confidence in different listening situations.
If you have more questions about your hearing aids, contact our hearing care specialists at Center for Hearing & Speech.
[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024). Quick statistics about hearing, balance, & dizziness. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
