Why Hearing Aid Fittings are Important

Buying hearing aids is a process. First, you have your hearing test to determine the type and amount of hearing loss, then you get casts made of your ears if necessary, your hearing aids are ordered and you anxiously await their arrival. Once you get the call from the audiologist, you will schedule a fitting appointment. Almost as important as your hearing test, this appointment will set the stage for your success with wearing hearing aids. Allow at least an hour for the appointment.

Why do you need a fitting?

Hearing is very personal. It is also subjective. The fitting process is important to make sure that your hearing aids are delivering sounds as you want and need to hear them. What volume might be fine to one listener is too loud or soft for another listener, even if they have the same level of hearing loss.

Your hearing aids should be comfortable to wear. That means the device itself is comfortable to wear and the sound it delivers is comfortable to your ears. The goal of your fitting appointment is to make sure your hearing aids are comfortable and you are comfortable wearing them and caring for the. It’s the start of a great relationship.

What happens during a fitting?

The fitting appointment will start with another quick look in your ears with the otoscope. Once you start wearing hearing aids, it’s important to keep your ears clear of excess earwax. Wax keeps your hearing aids from fitting properly, can cause feedback problems and will keep your hearing aids from working properly. The audiologist will check to make sure you are off to a good start.

The audiologist will insert your hearing aid and a thin tube into your ear. That’s to get you ready for one final test, the real ear measure test. The audiologist will measure the sound that’s delivered to your ear by the hearing aid. This is where the fine-tuning happens. During this procedure, the audiologist will adjust your hearing aids to your exact needs and preferences.

After your hearing aids are perfectly programmed, you will practice turning them on and off and inserting and removing them until you are comfortable with the process. The audiologist will explain the features and how to care for your hearing aids each day.

Follow-up appointments

Before you leave, the audiologist will give you instructions for beginning to wear your hearing aids and schedule a follow-up appointment. As anxious as you are to hear the world around you, your brain may find the new stimulation overwhelming. The audiologist may instruct you to sit in quiet settings or read a book or magazine aloud. If you find you are having problems, don’t hesitate to call the audiologist. If you experience whistling or feedback, don’t wait until your follow-up appointment, call the audiologist right away.