Preparing for Your Hearing Aid Fitting

Once you’ve decided on hearing aids, there are a few more steps to go through to ensure you get the most out of your device. After you’ve selected your device, you will have a hearing aid fitting to adjust settings, program your device and make sure it sits properly in your ear. Here is a quick reference guide for what to expect during your first hearing aid fitting appointment with your hearing health professional.

Viewing your hearing aids

When you first go in for your hearing aid fitting appointment your hearing health professional will show you your new hearing aids. They want to be sure the hearing aids they are showing you are the ones that you agreed to have ordered and to purchase.

General information about your hearing aids

Next your hearing health professional will go over general information about your hearing aids. That is they will go over what the parts are that make up your hearing aid, where the battery drawer is (if applicable) and where the program changing or volume buttons are on the hearing aids or remote (if applicable). Your hearing health professional is trying to familiarize you with your new hearing aids.

Cleaning and caring for your devices

You hearing health professional will then go over with you the cleaning and care of your hearing aids. This includes how to change your batteries or charge your hearing aids. It also includes a demonstration on how to properly clean your hearing aids daily. They will show you what tools to use when cleaning your hearing aids as well.

Trying on your hearing aids

Then your hearing health professional will show you in a mirror as they put in your hearing aids and then as they remove your hearing aids. Feel how it fits in your ear and note any pressure points and the comfort of the hearing aid to you and your ear. Next you hearing health professional will get you to put in and take out your hearing aids in front of them in front of a mirror. Visually seeing how you put in and take out your hearing aids is just as important and feeling how they are put in and taken out; these two senses go hand-in-hand with the fitting process.

Programming the hearing aids

Next your hearing health professional will program your hearing aids to your hearing loss as per your recent hearing test. Your hearing aids will be hooked up to a computer and your hearing health professional will adjust the programs as necessary to reflect you hearing needs. Your hearing health professional will have you test the sound of the hearing aids throughout the programming of your hearing aids to ensure you are comfortable with the sounds.

Booking a follow-up appointment

It is very important to book a follow-up appointment. Adjustments may need to be made after this initial fitting appointment, which is why a follow-up appointment is so essential. It is also a good idea to check in with your hearing health professional to let them know how you are doing with your new hearing aids. Your hearing health professional can counsel you and help with rehabilitation into the hearing aid world, which is another reason why these follow-up appointments are so very important.