Receiving hearing aids marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward better hearing health. The fitting appointment is the major first step, where your devices are customized specifically for your needs. Many patients feel both excited and nervous about this appointment, wondering what will happen and how they’ll adapt to these new devices.
This comprehensive guide walks you through each part of the hearing aid fitting process, helping you feel prepared and confident as you take this important step.
Preparation Before Your Appointment
Before arriving for your fitting, gather questions you may have about your hearing aids and daily use. Bring a family member or friend who can support you and help you remember important details. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before the appointment, as the fitting process requires attention and focus.
Be sure to review any paperwork from previous hearing evaluations so you can discuss specific listening situations that challenge you. The hearing health professional will use this information to fine-tune your hearing aids for optimal performance in your everyday environments.
Initial Consultation and Physical Fitting
The appointment begins with a brief discussion about your hearing needs and expectations. The hearing health professional will then examine your ear canals to ensure the physical components of your hearing aids fit properly. They will insert the devices, ensuring they sit comfortably without causing pressure points or feedback.
This physical fitting focuses on the exterior components that contact your ear. The professional makes adjustments to the earpiece size, tubing length, or shell dimensions as needed. They will show you how to insert and remove your hearing aids correctly, a skill that becomes easier with practice.
Programming and Sound Adjustments
After achieving a comfortable physical fit, the professional connects your hearing aids to specialized computer software. This step allows them to program the devices according to your hearing test results and personal preferences. You might hear various sounds while they make these adjustments.
The hearing health professional will ask for feedback about volume, clarity, and comfort levels. They may play different sound samples or engage you in conversation to test how the hearing aids perform. This fine-tuning process optimizes the devices for your specific hearing profile, ensuring sounds come through clearly without being uncomfortably loud.
Learning About Features and Maintenance
Once your hearing aids are programmed, their features and functions will be explained. You’ll learn how to turn the devices on and off, adjust volume levels, change programs for different listening environments, and connect to other technologies if applicable. The hearing health professional will show you how to clean and maintain your hearing aids, including changing batteries or charging rechargeable models.
You’ll receive information about storing the devices when not in use and protecting them from moisture. Proper care extends the life of your hearing aids and maintains their performance, so pay close attention to these instructions.
Adjustment Period and Follow-up Plan
Adapting to hearing aids takes time, as your brain needs to relearn how to process sounds you haven’t heard in a while. A wearing schedule will be provided to gradually increase usage time, helping your brain adjust more comfortably.
Water running, paper rustling, footsteps, and other sounds might seem unusually loud at first, but your brain will eventually categorize these as normal background noise. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to address any issues and make further adjustments. These check-ins ensure your hearing aids continue to meet your needs as you grow accustomed to them.
Ongoing Support and Resources
The relationship with your hearing health professional continues long after the initial fitting. They remain your partner in hearing health, offering support whenever questions or concerns arise. Most practices provide cleaning supplies, batteries, and other accessories you might need. They can connect you with support groups where you can meet others adjusting to hearing aids.
If problems develop with your devices, contact the professional promptly rather than attempting repairs yourself. Contact us today to schedule annual hearing evaluations to monitor your hearing and ensure your devices still match your needs.