If you’re planning on having your hearing tested, then you might be feeling a little nervous or the idea of having your hearing tested by an audiologist might be daunting. Either way, it’s incredibly important to have your hearing tested as you grow older and if you feel like your hearing itself has deteriorated.

A hearing aid fitting is much more than just picking the right device for your ear shape. A hearing aid fitting is all about providing the correct amount of amplification so that you can hear the sounds that are important to you without compromising on audio quality. You also need to feel comfortable wearing your hearing aids because you’ll be relying on them on a regular basis.

To help you prepare, here are a couple of things to expect when you attend a hearing aid fitting.

1. Real ear measurements

First, your audiologist will likely do a real ear measure to check the amount of amplification your hearing aids provide and how much you need. A small tube will be placed inside of your ear canal. This tube is connected to a microphone that will measure the volume of sounds in your eardrum. This will help the audiologist tune the volume of your hearing aids so that they aren’t too loud or too quiet. You’ll typically go through this a couple of times due to trial and error, but it’s a relatively short process and it’s important that you stay as truthful as possible and let your audiologist know if the sound is too quiet or loud.

2. You’ll be taught how to take care of your hearing aids

Another important part of your hearing aid fitting is learning how to take care and maintain your hearing aids. This sounds like a trivial step, but you’d be surprised at how much it takes to keep your hearing aids clean and in working condition. If you neglect to take care of your hearing aids, then it’s likely that you’ll damage them or require a replacement in the near future. This can be expensive, so make sure you pay attention when your audiologist informs you about how to take care of your hearing aids.

3. You’ll get time to ask questions

As you can imagine, having your first pair of hearing aids can be a daunting prospect. As such, it’s important that you inform your audiologist of any concerns or questions that you might have. For example, if the hearing aids feel a little heavy or bulky, then now is the time to ask your audiologist if there is an alternative. There are many settings and types of hearing aids, so there’s a good chance that you can get something different that will be more comfortable, easier to use or one that offers more features and settings.