With the advent of ecommerce, anything and everything is now available for sale online. Whether you wish to purchase real estate or want to buy your monthly grocery, the internet is the modern way to do so. This is also true for several hearing loss treatment options. Experts will tell you that hearing aids can be bought online at a much cheaper price point than from a hearing care professional’s office. Similarly, there are many over-the-counter, drugstore variety personal amplifiers that can act as substitutes for actual hearing aids.

The question that arises here is why should one go to a hearing health specialist and opt for professional fitting of hearing aids when there are much cheaper DIY options available in the market currently.

Why professional fitting is worth it

Selecting the right hearing aids is much more than just a financial decision. While the price of hearing aids is often a huge factor in the final selection, there are many other more important things that need to be considered when choosing a model of hearing aids. Experts believe that the degree and shape of your hearing loss should dictate what kind of hearing aid you get fitted with. Since each person has unique hearing loss needs, personal preferences, and lifestyle requirements, only a professional well-versed with your medical history and personal choices can make an informed decision for you.

Hearing care professionals are specially educated in hearing aids and assistive hearing technology. They are trained and provided with up-to-date educational information from hearing aid manufacturers, ensuring that these professionals have a reservoir of knowledge regarding the new technology entering the market.

Personal solutions

Online sellers and drugstore personal amplifiers are a one-size-fits-all solution. On the contrary, hearing aids should be uniquely fitted keeping in mind the patient. For example, a professional audiologist will take an earmold impression of your ear and design an earmold that is made specifically for you. Remember that if there is anything wrong with the shape of the earmold, the patient can experience a lot of pain, soreness and tenderness.

Ill-fitting hearing aids

Often, ill-fitting hearing aids lead to something called feedback (or whistling). This happens when the earmold is too loose for the patient’s ear and some of the sound escapes, leading to the patient hearing a constant whistle in their ear. This is not only a sign of bad fitting, but also highly uncomfortable. In case of a professional fit, the chances of hearing a whistle are very low and if the problem still occurs, it is the professional’s duty to fix it.

Getting your hearing aids fitted by a hearing care professional means that you get to have someone to go to in case of a problem. The professional will not only give you in-person training for things like cleaning the hearing aids and changing the batteries, but they will also provide you with the opportunity to attend hearing aid orientation classes for new users. Most importantly, going to a professional means that you get to have hearing aid trials and experience your hearing aids first-hand before actually buying them.