Hearing aids are a popular and effective tool for the majority of people with hearing loss. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid. It’s likely that number will only continue to grow.
If you are new to hearing aids, one of the most basic and essential things to learn is how to adjust the volume to get the best hearing experience in any environment.
How to Manually Adjust Hearing Aid Volume
Many hearing aids come with manual volume controls shaped like small levers. Different hearing aids may have slight variations, but in general, manually adjusting the volume is quite straightforward:
- Push the lever up to raise the volume.
- Push the lever down to lower the volume.
Your hearing aid will beep with each adjustment. Typically, it will be a higher-pitched noise as you raise the volume and a lower-pitched noise as you turn the volume down. A steady tone means that you have reached either the minimum or maximum volume of your device.
Using a Hearing Aid Smartphone App
Some hearing aids come with an app that you can use when you link your device to your smartphone via Bluetooth®. Among the many other features, you can adjust the volume or change the settings to better match your listening environment discretely from your phone rather than having to press any buttons on your device.
Utilizing Automatic Hearing Aid Volume Adjustments
While having the ability to adjust your hearing aids manually is valuable, most hearing aids come with built-in automatic volume controls. This feature allows your hearing aids to detect volume changes in your environment automatically and adjust accordingly.
Automatic volume adjustments can help you pick up a variety of sounds more easily, from hearing the birds chirping outside while on an early morning walk to hearing your friend’s voice over the sound of other diners at Cask & Cork.
Tips For Getting Used To Your Hearing Aid Volume Levels
Adjusting to your hearing aids takes a bit of time, as does finding the right volume for different environments. Keep the following in mind to make your experience adjusting easier and less stressful:
- Start slow by wearing your hearing aids for a couple of hours at a time.
- Use your hearing aids in quiet environments only before louder ones.
- Gradually work up to wearing your hearing aids for more time and in noisier environments.
- Give yourself breaks if needed.
- Contact your hearing specialist if you experience pain or discomfort in your ears.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Amarillo Hearing Clinic today.
