If you or a loved one have recently been told you have hearing loss, the next step is to be fitted with a hearing aid. A hearing aid can provide more clear hearing for a happier, more fulfilling life. A hearing aid fitting is an appointment that comes after you and your hearing instrument specialist have discussed and decided upon the right hearing aid for you and the degree of hearing loss you have. Once your hearing aids arrive in the office, it is time for the hearing aid fitting.
What to expect
A hearing aid fitting is a long appointment, typically lasting between one to two hours. At Advanced Hearing Services, we want to ensure you know what to expect. During the appointment, you and your hearing instrument specialist will discuss and go over the following:
- The proper fitting and programming of your hearing aids
- How to correctly use your hearing aids
- How to insert and use the hearing aid batteries
- Answering any questions you may have
- Scheduling a follow-up appointment
Proper fit and programming
You and your Advanced Hearing Services hearing instrument specialist have already chosen the type of hearing aid right for your degree of hearing loss. During the hearing aid fitting, your hearing health professional will ensure the hearing aid is programmed correctly and fits comfortably.
To ensure a proper fit, your hearing care professional will take you through live speech mapping. Live speech mapping provides real-time feedback to a hearing care provider on how a hearing aid is fitting. With live speech mapping, the professional will use a microphone and insert it into the ear canal to hear and see how the hearing aid picks up sounds. Your hearing specialist will be able to make adjustments as necessary.
Correct use of devices and batteries
During the hearing aid fitting, your hearing health provider will teach you how to use your hearing aid. This can be a lot of information; as such, it is a good idea to bring a friend or family member. If no one is available to attend your appointment, make sure to bring a notepad and pen to take notes, just in case. The hearing instrument specialist will cover the basic details, including:
- How to insert your hearing aids
- How to take your hearing aids out
- How to properly store your hearing aids when not wearing them
- How to properly insert and remove batteries
Follow-up care
After the appointment, your hearing health professional will ensure that our receptionist schedules a follow up appointment with you. While our technology and expertise allow us to provide a more accurate fit than ever before, it is important to remember that it takes time and patience to adjust to hearing aids. We expect to see you again to make adjustments and tweaks; it’s completely normal. That’s why we want to see you to make sure your devices still fit the way they should.