Hearing Aid Fitting
What is a Hearing Aid Fitting?
At Sound Hearing Solutions, our goal is to make your journey to better hearing as comfortable and convenient as possible. While prescription hearing aids are more effective and beneficial than ever before, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. A hearing aid fitting is the process where our audiologists customize and adjust hearing aids to meet your specific hearing needs and preferences. This step is crucial because it ensures that the hearing aids not only fit physically but also function optimally for your unique hearing profile, leading to the best possible hearing experience.
Here’s what you can expect during the process:
1. Reviewing Your Hearing Profile
We will begin by reviewing your hearing test results, lifestyle, and specific hearing needs. This personalized approach allows us to determine the best hearing aid model, style, and technology level for you.
Your input is essential, and we’ll ask questions about your daily routines and environments—whether you’re often in quiet settings, noisy environments, or a mix of both. This helps us program your hearing aids to suit your unique listening needs.
2. Programming and Fine Tuning
Using advanced software, we’ll program your hearing aids to your specific hearing levels based on your audiogram (hearing test results). This initial programming adjusts the volume and clarity to help you hear sounds at levels that are comfortable and clear.
To ensure accuracy, we conduct a process called Real-Ear Measurements (REM). REM allows us to measure the exact sound output in your ear canal, so your hearing aids can be fine-tuned to deliver the precise amplification you need.
3. Ensuring a Comfortable Fit
During the fitting, we’ll place your hearing aids in your ears and make sure they feel comfortable and secure. Depending on the style of hearing instrument you are being fit with, an earmold impression will be taken of your ear two weeks prior to the fitting appointment. Proper placement and fit help prevent discomfort and ensure the best sound quality.
If you’re new to wearing hearing aids, you may need time to adjust to the sensation. We’re here to make any physical adjustments necessary to keep them feeling comfortable and natural.
4. Learning How to Use Your New Hearing Aids
We’ll guide you through the basics of using your hearing aids, including inserting and removing them, adjusting volume settings, and handling batteries or charging. Most modern hearing aids work with an app on you smart phone, and we will go over what kind adjustments and settings you can make, as well as how to utilize features like Bluetooth connectivity.
Proper care and maintenance are key to extending the life of your hearing aids. We’ll teach you cleaning and storage techniques and provide any tools you need to keep your devices in top condition.
5. Moving Forward
It is important to have realistic expectation while moving forward. Adjusting to hearing aids is a process, and follow-up appointments allow us to fine-tune settings and address any issues you may have as you adapt to wearing them in different environments.
Your new hearing devices may initially amplify sounds in a way that’s unfamiliar. You might notice new sounds or experience a temporary “overload” of auditory input. This is normal, and we’ll help you gradually adapt to the enhanced sound quality. The fitting process includes adjusting settings based on your initial experiences. We encourage open communication about any issues, so we can make modifications as needed to optimize comfort and performance.
At Sound Hearing Solutions, our hearing aid fitting process is designed with your comfort and satisfaction in mind. Our dedicated team is here to ensure that your hearing aids help you experience life more fully, bringing clarity to the sounds that matter most to you. We are not satisfied unless your satisfied, and from our very first appointment together and beyond, we committed to making sure you are always hearing your very best.