Are Hearing Aid Fittings Really Needed?

A series of appointments are needed when getting a hearing aid. The last of these appointments is the hearing aid fitting. This can be a very important appointment that you don’t want to skip – it’s more than simply putting the hearing aid in your ear. The following article explains more.

What is a Hearing Aid Fitting?

A hearing aid fitting in an appointment in which a hearing health professional helps to fit your hearing aid. It could also be a chance to program your hearing aid, test it to make sure it’s working and learn how to use your hearing aid.

At the beginning of the fitting appointment, a hearing health professional will program the hearing aid if it has not already been programmed. This involves looking at your audiogram results in order to make sure your hearing aid provides the right amount of amplification for the right frequencies.

The hearing aid may then be tested to make sure that it’s picking up all the right sounds. At this point, you’ll be told to wear the hearing aid – checks can then be made that the hearing is not only working but that it sits comfortably in or on your ear.

Finally, you’ll be told how to use the hearing aid. This includes learning the controls, learning how to clean the device and learning how to replace batteries. This could also be a good opportunity to ask questions about any concerns you may have with your hearing aid.

Why are Hearing Aid Fittings Necessary?

Picking up your hearing aid without scheduling a professional fitting appointment could have negative consequences. You’ll have to learn how to program and maintain your hearing aid yourself, plus any faults with the device may not be identified.

A professional hearing aid fitting allows you to rely on the help of a hearing health professional to accurately program your hearing aid. You can then learn how to use your hearing aid without having to self-teach yourself – which could minimize mistakes such as not carrying out maintenance properly. Lastly, it allows you to check your hearing aid is working and that it’s comfortable before you go home.

Even if you’ve previously worn a hearing aid, a hearing aid fitting could still be useful. A different hearing aid model may need to be programmed differently and you may find that maintenance tasks such as cleaning your device are different. Even if you’re ordering the exact same model with the exact same prescription, it could still be a chance to test that your new device is working properly and that it is suitably comfortable.

How Do I Book My Hearing Aid Fitting?

After you’ve taken a hearing test and chose your hearing aid, a hearing aid fitting will usually be automatically scheduled for you. You may be able to arrange this soon after when using an off-the-shelf hearing aid model. Custom hearing aids may take a little longer to manufacture – once your device is available to collect, you’ll be able to then schedule a fitting.