What to Expect at a Hearing Aid Fitting

You are getting hearing aids. You and your audiologist have settled on the style that works best for you. Now you’re wondering what to expect at a hearing aid fitting. You may have a little anxiety about what it will be like living with hearing aids. For almost everyone, there is a sense of relief and amazement about how great things sound. Here are just a few tips to prepare you for the appointment.

Expect another hearing test

Because your audiologist wants to be certain that your hearing aids perform well for you, another hearing test is necessary. It’s painless and is used to calibrate the volume levels of your hearing aid. A thin tube is inserted into your ear canal and sits near your eardrum to determine how it reacts to sound. Then your hearing aids are inserted and the test is performed again. This test helps the audiologist calibrate the volume so it’s comfortable for you to hear both loud and soft sounds.

Expect some instruction

It may seem like there’s a lot to know about your new hearing aids but it’s fairly simple once you actually have them in your hands. You will learn about different settings and how to insert and remove your units. You will also receive directions about battery replacement, how to clean your hearing aids and how best to care for them. If you want, bring a family member or friend with you to the appointment to help you remember the instructions.

Expect a small learning curve

It won’t be long before wearing your hearing aids is second nature. But if you’ve never had hearing aids before, it takes a little time to get used to things. Your audiologist will recommend a schedule to gradually increase the time spent wearing the units. Simultaneously, you will start by wearing your hearing aids in quiet surroundings and work up to noisier places such as a restaurant.

Sometimes what you hear isn’t quite the same as what you expected to hear. Your voice and others may sound a little strange to you at first. It also takes time for your brain to learn to hear sounds you haven’t noticed in a while.

Expect a follow-up visit

In about a week or so your audiologist will want to see you again to check the fit of your hearing aids and discuss how things sound to you. Volume adjustments are common and you may have to make more than one. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable let your audiologist know right away so the problems can be fixed.

When you know what to expect at a hearing aid fitting, hopefully you will be less anxious about the appointment. When your hearing aids fit well and work well you will see an improvement in your lifestyle and hearing health.