What Can You Expect From Your Hearing Aid Fitting

If you have recently been informed that you need a hearing aid by your audiologist, you may be anxious about the hearing aid fitting and what to expect. Of course, there is no need to fret. Your audiologist will explain everything to you, and you will be able to ask any queries you may have. Nevertheless, if you would like to go to the appointment feeling prepared, we will explain what is likely to happen below.

Everyone is different: your hearing aid needs to be right for you

A successful hearing aid fitting is not just about making sure that you have the right device for your needs. The audiologist also needs to make sure that the hearing aid is fitted correctly to your ears so that you will benefit from the right amount of amplification to maximize the benefits of having the hearing aid.

Real-ear measures are typically used to get the programming of the device right

During the appointment for your hearing aid to be fitted, your audiologist will verify that the hearing aid is giving you the correct amount of amplification by doing real ear measures. Real-ear measures enable the professional to gauge how loud sounds are in your ear canal. This will involve a thin tube being inserted into your ear canal. A microphone is connected to this tube that will determine the volume of sound in your eardrum without any hearing device in your ear. Then, the audiologist will put your hearing aid inside of your ear, taking care not to probe the tube microphone that is already inside your ear canal. When the hearing aid has been turned on, the audiologist will measure how loud the sound is at the output of your hearing aids.

The audiologist will play several different sounds, which include very loud tones as well as soft sounds so that they can determine the right level of amplification for your needs. Proper verification of your hearing aid settings is integral to the successful fitting of any hearing device. If these measures are not carried out, your audiologist will not know whether your hearing aid is programmed correctly and you will not get the best results from your device.

Hearing aid maintenance and an opportunity to ask questions

Once all of the tests have been carried out to make sure that your hearing aid is programmed correctly for you, your audiologist will then talk you through how to care and look after your hearing aid properly. You will be able to practice tasks like changing the hearing aid batteries within the office. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the hearing device and how to use it.