Changes to Expect During Your First Hearing Aid Fitting

Getting fitted with hearing aids will improve your hearing loss and restore your enjoyment of sounds (especially voices) you might have been struggling to hear for years. However, your hearing aids will take some getting used to, and the steps to ensuring they’re meeting your needs are part of an ongoing process. Here are a few realities of what you can expect during and after your first hearing aid fitting.

1. Your hearing aids won’t be a perfect fit right out of the box.

If you’ve never worn hearing aids before, you may not realize that your hearing aids won’t be a perfect fit right away. This includes how they physically fit in (and on) your ears and how they’re programmed. Your audiologist will work with you during your hearing aid fitting appointment to maximize both your wearing and hearing comfort.

2. Your voice may sound different, louder or like it’s being heard through a tunnel.

Hearing aids change the way we hear all sounds, including that sound of our own voices. Your own voice may sound strange at first, but you’ll eventually get used to it. If you can’t adjust to the tunnel effect (or occlusion effect) after a few months, talk to your audiologist about how your model of hearing aid or settings can be adjusted to help.

3. Background sounds will be more noticeable than before – maybe even distracting.

With natural hearing, our minds learn to recognize and filter out background sounds, but with hearing aids, everything is amplified. If your hearing loss has developed over time, suddenly hearing these sounds again may be distracting or even uncomfortable. Most people adjust to the way hearing aids change environmental sounds within four to six weeks, but if you’re struggling with this adjustment, don’t hesitate to talk to your audiologist about it.

4. Your audiologist will become someone you see on a regular basis.

Once you’re fitted with hearing aids and given initial training on how to use and adjust to them, it’s only the beginning. First, you’ll have another follow-up appointment within a few weeks to ensure you’re adjusting well and discuss any concerns. Any time your hearing aids need to be adjusted, repaired or your hearing needs change, you’ll also be heading back to your audiologist for expert help and support.