Hearing Aids: Fit and Ready to Go

You’ve had a hearing test and the audiologist has suggested the best hearing device to meet your needs. Surely, it’s just a case of picking the hearing aid off the shelf and off your go?

Not so fast!

When was the last time you bought a pair of new shoes without making sure they were a good fit? Imagine wearing a pair of hiking boots that rubbed your heels and squashed your toes. They’d be no good, as the shoes are not fit for purpose.

The same goes for a hearing device. If it doesn’t fit properly, not only is it uncomfortable which means you’d be less likely to wear it, but the quality of the sound is degraded. This is where the skill of the audiologist comes in to ensure your hearing device is a perfect fit for you. In addition, it’s also important that the device is programed correctly, so that you can hear soft sounds clearly, but loud noises are not uncomfortable.

To ensure a good physical fit, in the same way a dentist takes an impression of your teeth, an audiologist takes an impression of your ear canal. With a behind-the-ear (BTE) aid, this ensures the part of the device (earmold) that delivers sound into your ear, has a good seal. The earmold is connected to the body of the hearing aid via a fine tube and for optimal hearing it needs to fit snuggly into the ear.

There are over ten different types of earmold style, with additional options when it comes to the type of plastic and color. Depending on the degree of your hearing problem, you may be fitted with a tiny (in the canal) mold, a half shell or a full shell. But the clever use of translucent materials can mean that even a full shell can be discrete.

There is considerable skill in creating a mold without distortion, which is why using an audiologist is such a good idea. They have extensive training and are expert at taking impressions for a great fit. Once they have obtained a template they are happy with, the mold is sent away for your ear piece to be created. This usually takes around two weeks, at which point your return for a fitting.

Provided the audiologist is happy with the fit, they will then program or fine tune the hearing device. This involves using the information from your hearing test to adjust the hearing experience of your chosen device to give a comfortable level of sound.

It is an audiologist’s job to make sure you are completely satisfied with your new device, both for physical comfort and ease or hearing. Never be bashful about letting your audiologist know if something isn’t right, because they take pride in making adjustments until things are correct and you are totally satisfied with your new listening experience.