Adjusting to the sound of your own voice can be challenging when you first receive hearing aids, but there are some simple things you can do to help you adjust to your new hearing aids quickly.
In this article, we'll discuss:
The occlusion effect
The occlusion effect is a phenomenon that makes it sound like you are speaking very loudly, or that you are in a tunnel. It occurs when a hearing aid or hearing aid tip is placed in the ear, occluding (blocking) the canal.
If you've experienced this hollow or booming effect, you are not alone. The occlusion effect is very common for both new hearing aid users and people who have worn hearing aids before but are adjusting to new hearing aids.
Adjusting to the sound of your voice
The good news is, this feeling will go away in approximately one week with daily hearing aid use.
The even better news is that there are some simple things you can do to help you adjust to your new hearing aids quickly.
- Wear your hearing aids every day, all day while you are awake. This will help your brain get used to the new sound.
- Read out loud for 30 minutes a day, this will help your brain specifically adjust to your own voice.
- Check in with a friend or family member to make sure you are not speaking too loudly or too softly. Don’t be surprised if they tell you that you are talking softer than you used to!
If you are still having difficulty after a week, don’t despair! Try lowering the volume on your hearing aids just a little, and keep up with these suggestions. You will adjust to your own voice in no time.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our customer support team.