If you’ve been advised to wear hearing aids, you may be approaching your appointment with your audiologist with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. Hearing aids can make an incredible difference to your hearing, but it’s perfectly normal to be slightly apprehensive about having your hearing aids fitted for the first time. Here are 4 FAQs about hearing aid fittings.

1. Why are hearing aid fittings important?

If your audiologist has recommended hearing aids to you, you may assume that all you need to do is pop the hearing aids inside or outside of the ears, and you’ll be able to hear perfectly. Sadly, this doesn’t always work. Everybody is unique, and there’s no universal setting or program that works for everyone. A hearing aid fitting enables your audiologist to personalize the care you receive to ensure that your hearing aids are comfortable, they function as well as possible, and you’re completely happy with them. It can take a little fiddling around and adjusting hearing aids to get them just right.

2. What happens during a hearing aid fitting?

When you go and see an audiologist to have your hearing aids fitted, they will examine your ears using an otoscope before placing the hearing aids. This is to check that there aren’t any issues, such as a collection of wax, that may impact the efficacy of the hearing aids. Your audiologist will then check the fit of the hearing aids to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible. They will then adjust the settings of the devices to show you how your hearing aids work and program them to suit your individual needs and preferences.

3. How long does a hearing aid fitting last?

Every person is different, and appointments can vary in length. Typically, a hearing aid fitting will last at least an hour. It’s essential to do a thorough job at this stage of treatment to enable you to get the best out of your hearing aids and enjoy optimum results.

4. Will my audiologist show me how to look after my hearing aids?

Yes. Once your audiologist has fitted your hearing aids, they will talk to you about how to clean and look after your hearing aids, how to adjust the settings and how to insert and remove your hearing aids properly. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask your audiologist. It’s common to arrange a follow-up appointment shortly after the fitting to see how you’re getting on with your hearing aid and address any teething issues.

A hearing aid fitting is a very exciting prospect for many people, but it’s perfectly natural to feel a little nervous too. If you’ve never had hearing aids before, you may have lots of questions. It’s helpful to jot down questions before your appointment, so that you don’t forget anything during your fitting. Hopefully, these FAQs have provided you with some useful information that will ensure you look forward to your hearing aid fitting and the many benefits it will bring you.