How a Hearing Aid Fitting Works

Hearing aids are incredibly beneficial devices to individuals with hearing loss. However, in order to get the most out of the technology, it’s crucial to have theme programmed to your specific needs. As you go for your one or two-hour fitting session, it is worth noting that it is a crucial part of your hearing loss solution. If you have recently been booked for a hearing aid fitting, this article will provide you with some relevant insight on how it works.

Assessing Your Hearing Aid’s Suitability

This is the primary purpose of your hearing aid fitting appointment. The hearing specialist will critically assess the device’s suitability while ensuring that it fits comfortably in your inner ear. The device needs to sit comfortably in your ear while it functions as expected. For many hearing aid device wearers, this is an enticing element that convinces them to wear the aid as often as possible. Moreover, as the hearing specialist inserts the device, the pressure points within the ear canal would be determined. You are expected to provide feedback that will ultimately improve how well the device fits.

Hearing Device Programming and Sound Adjustment

Your hearing aid is a piece of highly optimized technology and requires expert programming to function. Therefore, you should know that these hearing aids are designed and manufactured in generic formats. Even though your exact measurements are taken, the hearing aid comes without specific programming. However, your hearing health professional can program it for optimal functionality. Programming involves setting the device to fit your degree of hearing loss. Additionally, your hearing care provider will consider your daily lifestyle before making readjustments. For example, if your lifestyle involves being in noisy locations, the hearing aid will be programmed to restrict background noise. During the hearing aid fitting, your hearing aid professional will make these adjustments, usually with a computer.

Accuracy Testing

Accuracy testing is done during your hearing aid fitting and involves placing a tube into the ear. The hearing care prfessional will gently insert the probe into your inner ear and play sounds at different volumes directly into your ear. Your role at this stage of the test is to give feedback to your hearing care provider. You are to communicate which sound levels felt comfortable and loud enough to hear and those which weren’t. When the microphone probing tube is inserted into your ear for the first time, the hearing aid would be taken out of your ear. However, the hearing health professional will place it into your ear later to complete the accuracy test.

Care and Maintenance Discussion

When the hearing specialist is convinced that your device is functional, they will guide you on caring for and maintaining your device. Moreover, you will learn to turn the device on or off, replace batteries and how to use the hearing aid’s other special programs. Most importantly, it is an excellent opportunity to learn unique cleaning methods to avoid damaging the hearing aid. However, this crucial appointment cannot be missed because it presents you with the opportunity to learn about your hearing aid.