What to Expect at Your Hearing Aid Fitting

Once you have tested for a hearing aid and it’s been ordered, you will be anxious to have it fitted and hear the world as before, but what can you expect from hearing aid fitting?

The process of having your hearing aid fitted is less scary than it sounds; it is probably less taxing than testing your hearing in the first place. However, the appointment might last a little longer than you expect.

Duration

If you think your appointment for a hearing aid fitting will be short and sharp, you best prepare yourself for slightly longer in the office with the audiologist. Some appointments are short, only 45 minutes, but others can last up to two hours.

The appointment requires extra time because your audiologist needs to fit the hearing aid, test the hearing aid, and issue instructions on its use. There will also be some time in the end to ask questions.

Fitting and testing

After you arrive at the office and greet the audiologist, you will be given your hearing aids and asked to try them on. Your audiologist will help you to fit them if necessary. If the hearing aids don’t fit, they will have to be re-ordered.

If the hearing aids fit, then your audiologist will want to test them. You might be given a pure-tone test similar to the one you took when testing your hearing for the first time.

Programming

Once the fitting has successfully taken place, your audiologist will want to program the devices so they are optimized for your individual hearing. This usually involves some software and testing, which can also take some time.

Programming your hearing devices is crucial because it can’t be carried out at a later date. In addition, if there are any issues with your hearing devices, they will have to be returned to the audiologist for reprogramming. Therefore, it’s better to spend some time during fitting to program the device properly.  

Adjusting

The adjusting stage is the moment of truth; this is when you try your hearing aids for the first time and hear the world the way you once did many years before. It can be an emotional moment, so be prepared.

Your hearing aids might work well, and you might be entirely happy with the outcome, but your audiologist mighty still has to make some adjustments. Be patient; the better optimized they are, the better your hearing will be in the long run.

Chance for questions

After your audiologist has given you some instructions on using the device, you will be offered the chance to ask some questions. This stage of the process usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on how many questions you have.

It’s important to ask all your questions at this point. Try to jot down a few questions beforehand, too, in case your mind goes blank. Your audiologist will do their best to put you at ease and give as much information as possible.