How to Get the Most from Your Hearing Aid Fitting

If you’ve got a hearing aid fitting coming up, then you’ve already made a very smart decision. This appointment helps you get the ideal hearing aids for your needs while making sure they fit perfectly in your ears.

There’s no denying that you can get a lot out of a hearing aid fitting. But, if you want to know how to get the absolute most out of this appointment, then here are some tips:

Ask as many questions as you want

Never be afraid to ask questions during a hearing aid fitting. If you talk to an audiologist, they’ll tell you the most frustrating thing is when patients don’t ask questions. There will undoubtedly be things that you’re concerned about or want to know more about. So, don’t be afraid to ask!

If you want to know about a specific feature, then ask. If you want to know if you can wear your hearing aids in certain places, then ask. Write down all your questions before you go, so you don’t forget to ask any. Your audiologist welcomes all of your queries, and you’ll get so much more out of the appointment.

Conduct a bit of research at home

You can attend a hearing aid fitting with absolutely zero knowledge on hearing aids. But, if you want to get the most out of your time, then it helps to do some home research. Even if you’re looking up how hearing aids work, it can still help you be more informed and knowledgeable during the appointment.

Research does two things; it means you’ll understand more of what’s said, and it helps you come up with even more questions to ask your audiologist!

Clean & protect your ears before the appointment

This may sound pointless, but there’s one specific reason this can help you get the most from your hearing aid fitting. At the start of the appointment, your audiologist conducts a test called Real Ear Measures. They insert a tiny tube deep into your ear canal and use a microphone to measure the level of sound produced. It shows them how bad your hearing is, and they repeat this when they fit your hearing aid, to see the difference it makes.

Now, if you’ve got lots of wax in your ears or you damaged them by listening to loud music, then it can disrupt the results. It may make it seem like your ear canal produces a lower volume than it actually does. Plus, impacted earwax makes it hard to fit a tube in your ear safely. Use softening ear drops to deal with the wax, and stay clear of loud noises in the lead up to your appointment. Then, you’ll produce accurate results that allow your hearing aids to be programmed correctly.

If you don’t do these three things, then you’ll still end up with a comfortable hearing aid and knowledge on how to use and maintain it. But, if you want to leave your appointment having got the most out of it, then follow our tips. It’ll mean you feel more confident using your hearing aids and can feel more comfortable with them right away.