4 Things to Be Prepared For During Your Hearing Aid Fitting

Audiologists are hearing care professionals that specialize in the diagnosis, testing and treatment of hearing loss and other auditory system disorders. They are often considered the go-to professionals for all things related to hearing aids; however, their job role encompasses much more than that. Audiologists are dedicated to helping patients with hearing loss select, get fitted with and even repair hearing aids. They are also there to rehabilitate their patients and improve their quality of life. Here are the four things that you need to be prepared for if you are going to see an audiologist for a hearing aid fitting.

1. Lots of trying on

One very important part of the hearing aid fitting appointment is getting the physical fit of the device right for your ear. This appointment involves you hearing with different devices to see which one suits your lifestyle, hearing loss and budgetary needs. Some audiologists may need you to wear hearing aids in one ear and then in both to experience the difference between monaural versus binaural amplification. When your selected hearing aid is programmed and ready, your audiologist will ask you try them on and give your feedback.

2. Hearing a whole lot differently

Hearing with hearing aids is significantly different from hearing without them. The brains of hearing loss patients often ‘forget’ to process certain sounds that they haven’t heard for a long time due to their condition. When you finally wear hearing aids, your brain starts receiving increased auditory information that may sometimes be overwhelming and confusing. However, if you are already mentally prepared for this, you will be able to adapt much faster. Don’t hesitate to ask for your audiologist’s help in getting you adjusted to the changes.

3. Undergoing a couple more tests

You might be in for a surprise if you thought all of the hearing tests and evaluations were over. On the contrary, your audiologist will likely run a few more tests during the hearing aid fitting to see if your hearing aids are giving you enough sound in the parts of the ear where you need it. This is an essential part of knowing if the devices are working and if they are well-suited for your hearing loss needs.

4. Planning a follow-up appointment

Getting used to hearing aids is a huge deal and often very difficult for people. You can’t expect yourself to get comfortable with your new hearing aids over a single appointment. In fact, your audiologist will schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress and gauge whether the hearing aids are working correctly. This could be an excellent opportunity for you to provide them with your feedback and report any problems you face. You may also ask questions about how to take care of your hearing aids, how to clean them and how to fix problems that occur from time to time.