If you are new to wearing hearing aids, you may be wondering what will happen during your fitting. A hearing aid fitting is a process where a hearing health professional fits and programs your new hearing aids. It usually takes about an hour, and during that time, a hearing health professional will take several measurements and make sure the devices are working properly.
Take an Audiogram
The first thing that will happen during a hearing aid fitting is undergoing an audiogram. An audiogram is a graph that shows the extent of your hearing loss and how it changes over different frequencies or pitches of sound. During this test, you will hear various tones through headphones and then indicate when you can hear them by raising your hand or pressing a button on a device.
Your hearing health professional will do this at several decibel levels to determine what sounds are audible for you and which ones aren’t. This information helps them program the volume settings on the devices, providing optimal benefit while still being comfortable to wear.
Measure Your Ear Canal
The next step is to measure your ear canal. This is done with a soft, pliable material that’s inserted into the canal and then molded to its shape. This gives your hearing health professional an idea of how deep the hearing aid needs to be placed in order for it to be effective. It also helps them determine which type of hearing aids will work best for you – ones that fit completely in the ear canal or those that sit partially in the canal.
Program the Devices
After taking all of the measurements, a hearing health professional will program the hearing aids. This includes setting the correct volume levels and fine-tuning other settings to match your unique needs. You may need to return for a follow-up appointment after you’ve had a chance to wear them for a while so that they can be further adjusted as needed.
Show You How to Use Them
A hearing health professional will also show you how to use the devices. They will go over all of the different functions and explain when and how you should use them. It’s important that you feel comfortable using the hearing aids on your own, so ask as many questions as you need to in order to understand how to wear and care for them.
Give You Cleaning Instructions
A hearing health professional should also give you instructions on cleaning your hearing aids. It’s important that they are kept clean so that they will operate appropriately and last longer. They may recommend a specific brand of cleaner or show you how to clean them with a dry cloth; either way, the devices must be cleaned daily in order for them to work their best.
A typical hearing aid fitting appointment involves taking an audiogram, measuring the ear canal, programming the devices and showing you how to use them. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to discuss them with your hearing health professional. They want you to be happy with your new hearing aids and will do everything they can to make sure you get the most out of them.
