1. Start in a quiet room at home. First get used to the new sound quality. Sounds like the ticking of a clock, the humming of the computer, the beep of the microwave or the rustling of clothes or paper may seem very loud to you at first, because you have not been hearing them properly for a long time.

2. Read aloud to yourself and learn to correct the volume of your own voice when you are wearing the hearing aids.

3. Talk to different people and learn how to distinguish between different sound patterns again.

4. It will take a little time before you are completely used to your hearing aids and can fully enjoy the benefits.

5. Wear your hearing aids for as many hours a day as you can, and for a little longer each day.

6. Make notes, write down difficult situations and describe what any unpleasant noises were like. This information will help your hearing care professional to fine-tune the devices better for you.

7. Involve your family and friends in this familiarization period. Ask someone to set the television to a comfortable volume.

8. When you are gradually beginning to get used to wearing the hearing aids, wear them in more difficult environments such as the office, at parties or in restaurants. These can be difficult even for people who can hear normally. Give yourself time to regain your ability to hear in these difficult situations.

9. Make your hearing aids part of your everyday life and be patient with yourself until your brain has relearnt to interpret the sounds correctly again.