3 Things to Expect at a Hearing Aid Fitting

Congratulations on taking steps to improve your hearing! In the weeks between your initial hearing exam and your hearing aid fitting, you’ve probably come up with a few questions about the process. Just like your first appointment, this visit will take about an hour or so. When you leave, you’ll be wearing your new hearing aids. Here’s what to expect at a hearing aid fitting.

1. One more test

Your hearing healthcare provider will perform one more hearing test to ensure that your new hearing aids provide the best sound possible. Once your devices arrived at the office, your hearing specialist began the programming process. This sets up the hearing aids to be checked for a sound test. During this exam, a thin tube is placed in your ear – it measures the impact of loud and soft sounds on your eardrum. The first time, the measurement is taken without a hearing aid. Then, it’s repeated with your new unit in place. Your hearing care professional balances the amplification so that you can hear soft sounds and loud sounds are not uncomfortable. These levels may be adjusted as you become used to your hearing aids.

2. Another consultation

Just as with your first appointment, you will have time with your hearing provider to discuss all aspects of your new hearing aids. You’ll learn how to insert and remove them, how to care for them, how to change the batteries and how to make adjustments. You’ll receive written information to remind you how everything works, but don’t hesitate to take notes if you want. Ask any questions you may have about your hearing test results, how your hearing aids work, how they fit and what you should expect in the next few weeks.

3. A follow-up appointment

A few days after your fitting visit, you may receive an email or a phone call from your hearing health specialist to check in to see how things are going. You’ll also schedule a follow-up appointment in a couple weeks to make sure that your hearing aids fit comfortably and are working well for you. Tell your hearing care professional if you think some sounds are too soft or too loud. If you feel any rubbing or have trouble inserting or removing your devices, bring this to your hearing provider’s attention. It’s vital that you are comfortable with your hearing aids and that they fit right because you’ll likely be wearing them for years! Studies show that people who don’t like the fit of their hearing aids don’t wear them, and that’s a waste.

While it takes a little time to get used to the idea of wearing hearing aids, once you actually have them you’ll find that wearing them becomes easier and easier. Because your hearing will improve, you’ll feel better about conversations with friends and meeting new people. When you know what to expect at a hearing aid fitting, the process goes smoothly and you rapidly become comfortable with your hearing aids.