4 FAQs About Hearing Aid Fittings

If you’ve been experiencing hearing loss for a while, then it’s incredibly important to visit a hearing specialist to help you with hearing aid fittings. Hearing aids are wonderful little inventions that sit inside of your ear (or outside) and amplify certain noises around you. It’s the most common way of restoring hearing loss that is caused by old age or damage, but it does require a bit of investment.

Much like getting a new pair of glasses, there are many stages involved in getting yourself a pair of hearing aids. You’ll be tested thoroughly with trial and error methods and you’ll need to learn how to maintain them. To help you ease into the idea of getting yourself a pair of hearing aids, we’ve prepared a couple of common questions that are frequently asked by patients who are considering hearing aids.

1. What can I expect at a hearing aid fitting?

A hearing aid fitting involves a couple of important steps. Firstly, your hearing will be tested to see how much your hearing loss has progressed. As we age, this may get progressively (much like our vision) and we’ll need to return for regular annual appointments.

Next, you’ll be told about the various types of hearing aids and your hearing care professional will tell you which would be the most suitable. This is usually initiated by a couple of questions about your lifestyle. For instance, if fitness is an important part of your life then you may be recommended a different style of hearing aid that is more comfortable to use while working out.

Once the hearing aid has been chosen, your hearing specialist will calibrate the hearing aid to be accurate to your needs and you’ll be given a brief lesson on how to take care of your hearing aids.

2. How do I get an appointment with a hearing health provider?

Hearing aid fittings are usually initiated by you. If you speak with your doctor you can be referred after some preliminary testing to identify that you’re suffering from hearing loss. You can also be referred by friends and family members who have been to a hearing aid fitting and this is the preferred method if you want to ensure quality of service.

3. Will I need to attend regular appointments?

Yes. Roughly one to three weeks after you leave with your hearing aids, you’ll be requested to come back so that the hearing specialist can check on your progress, teach you anything you’ve forgotten or don’t understand and also re-program your hearing aid if needed.

4. What do I do if my hearing aids aren’t what I expected?

If you’re not satisfied with your hearing aids then your hearing care professional will assist in re-programming them to your satisfaction, help you pick a different pair of hearing aids or even offer a refund. You’ll usually be given the opportunity to try out several different types of hearing aids for a test period to find what’s most comfortable and suitable for you.