Questions to Ask at a Hearing Aid Fitting

You’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, have selected your hearing aids and now it’s time for your hearing aid fitting. The appointment, which lasts one to two hours, is very important, as it provides the first opportunity for you to touch, feel, wear, try and learn about your hearing aids. Because this is the first time with your new devices, it is important to make sure you understand how to wear and care for them, in order to get the most out of your hearing aids.

During the hearing aid fitting, your hearing specialist will fit the aids, adjust or tune the settings and provide information on maintenance and care. Consider taking along the following list of questions to ask during each part of your hearing aid fitting. Also, consider taking a friend or loved one along with you to the appointment. Your partner can take notes while you learn one-on-one with the hearing care specialist.

Keep in mind: there are no silly questions and you really can’t ask too many. Your hearing healthcare provider will not mind a multitude of questions because they want to ensure you are confident and comfortable with your new devices.

Questions about settings

Understanding how to operate the settings on your hearing aids is essential to getting the most out of your devices. When learning about your hearing aids, consider asking the following questions:

1. Are the settings automatic?
2. How do I change the volume?
3. What do I need to know about using the accessories?
4. How do I change the settings when I’m in noisy environments?

Questions about care

Caring properly for your hearing aids is also an important part of learning how they work. Maintaining and caring for your hearing aids helps keep them in optimal shape, so consider the following questions:

1. How do I clean my hearing aids?
2. How do I store my hearing aids?
3. What do I do if my hearing aids stop working?
4. What do I do if my hearing aids get wet?
5. What do I do if my hearing aids break?

Questions about wear

Adjusting to hearing aids isn’t an easy task, so be sure to ask your hearing professional for some tips. When learning how often to wear your devices, consider asking the following:

1. How often do I wear my hearing aids?
2. Will I follow a schedule for wearing my new devices?
3. Do I wear my hearing aids at night?
4. Can I wear my hearing aids in the shower or other water?
5. Should I avoid any environments while wearing my hearing aids?

After asking all of your questions, your hearing healthcare provider will set up follow-up appointments to make sure you’re enjoying the maximum benefits from your hearing aids.