How Are Hearing Aids Fitted?

As we age, our bodies often begin to see many signs of wear and tear. Things can often become more difficult as we age, from working out to nights out on the town!

One thing, in particular, that changes for a lot of people as they age are their ability to hear. Sounds we are used to picking up seem to be more challenging to decipher as we age, which can often be frustrating.

Luckily, there have been many advancements in technology to assist those who suffer from hearing loss. Most commonly, hearing aids are prescribed. During your audiologist’s appointment, you will be able to choose and order your hearing aids. Then they will need to be appropriately fitted.

Properly Fitted Hearing Aids

Fitting your hearing aids properly is the key to ensuring you get the best results, so you should begin that process with care. Hearing aids are programmed using specialist software by an audiologist using your hearing loss range. The fitting appointment lasts about an hour.

The first step consists of an audiologist gently placing a thin tube near your eardrum, during which loud and soft sounds will be played to see what reaction the eardrum has. Then the hearing aid is fitted while the tube remains in place.

The audiologist will also ensure that the hearing aids are fitted correctly and comfortable to wear during this stage to see whether a balance between amplification and loudness results in better reactions to loud versus soft sounds.

It’s normal to feel a little weird when you wear your hearing aids for the first time, but you should not experience any significant problems. Hearing aids usually come with instructions about removing and inserting them, cleaning them, changing batteries, and adjusting the volume. An audiologist can teach you all this and how to adjust the volume for different situations.

Please feel free to ask questions or write anything specific you would like to remember when you meet with your audiologist. They should provide leaflets with important information.

If you have difficulty remembering everything that the audiologist tells you, don’t worry. In addition to the leaflets and the brochure with information about the particular device you’ll receive, you can call at any time and ask for the audiologist’s advice.

What’s Next?

You may find that it takes a while to adjust to new hearing aids, even if you’ve worn hearing aids before. You may not feel comfortable wearing them all day right away, and you will need to devote time to get used to them.

Typically, you will start wearing your hearing aids only for a few hours each day. Your audiologist will help you determine a schedule that will help you get used to your new devices.

Wearing them every day during the first few days gets easier as you get accustomed to wearing them outside and in public. Wearing them in quiet settings may also serve as part of the adjustment plan, followed by gradually wearing them in crowded social environments.

You may have avoided certain environments and social situations over the years as your hearing loss has worsened. However, when you reconsider your hearing aid, the professional needs to understand your lifestyle.

Basic models may be adequate for sedentary people who have little background noise at home but experience many different listening situations with varying degrees of background noise. More advanced models will generally be more suitable for people who often encounter many different listening situations with varying degrees of background noise.

It is important not to hesitate to contact your audiologist if you experience any unexpected difficulty with your hearing aid. They can help you correct the problem.

Follow-up Appointment

Approximately two or more weeks after the fitting, you will be meeting with your audiologist for a follow-up appointment to ensure that you are adjusting comfortably to your hearing aids. If adjustments are needed, they will be discussed at the follow-up appointment.

If you or a loved one believes that you may have some sort of hearing loss, it is essential to contact your doctor or audiologist immediately. Simply seeking help at this vital time can be the difference between continuously living with impaired hearing and finding a way to help your hearing down the road.

If you live in the Las Vegas area, consider using Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for all of your hearing needs. Located locally, we have a dedicated team of hearing professionals dedicated to helping people find relief for their hearing ailments.