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Q: I want to try an over-the-counter hearing aid. What are some ways to get used to wearing one? 

A: Hearing aids for mild or moderate hearing loss are more accessible and affordable than ever, thanks to a new category of FDA-approved devices. You can buy over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without seeing a doctor, going through hearing tests, or getting a prescription. 

Scoring a pair these devices is just the first step toward better hearing, however. It takes time to learn how to use, wear and adjust them. 

The first two weeks you wear hearing aids can be a little bumpy. Your voice may sound different to you, like it has a different volume or quality (an echo or tinny sound) when you speak.  

And soft sounds, such as running water or shoes brushing along carpet, may sound louder than normal and even a little irritating. 

To cope during the adjustment period, wear the hearing aids at home (where there are a lot of soft sounds) for at least a few hours per day, and longer if possible.  

Also, try not to fiddle with the volume too much. Allow soft sounds to be louder than normal, so the brain will get used to them more quickly. 

Once soft sounds don’t seem as loud, try wearing the hearing aids in other environments, such as the grocery store, the car or a noisy restaurant. 

Unlike many prescription hearing aids that can automatically adjust the volume when there’s a significant change in noise around you, OTC hearing aids must be adjusted manually.  

For example, you might need one setting for watching TV, another for doing yard work, and one for being in a noisy environment, like a restaurant. 

Some situations can be particularly difficult for hearing aid use. For example, at a restaurant or party, background noise will likely prevent you from getting 100% clarity understanding speech.  

You want the hearing aid to pick up sounds in front of you and the background noise behind you. So don’t sit with a wall behind you at a restaurant; sit with the loud tables behind you. 

Using a hearing aid outside on windy days can be challenging. Wind blowing over the hearing aid microphones creates excessive noise. Wear a hood or a hat to help block the wind and reduce noise. 

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu. 

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