How Does an Audiologist Help with Hearing Aid Fittings?

When you have an appointment with an audiologist, they will make sure that your earpiece is made for you and that it is comfortable to wear. They will also work with you to make sure that it fits behind your ear well. They will use real ear measurements (REM) to ensure this is the case. This is a very simple test, and it essentially takes the size and the shape of your ear into account and the degree of hearing loss you have. All you have to do is face a small speaker and then stay quiet. 

Your audiologist will then put a headset over your ears and they will also put a thin tube into the ear canal. The audiologist will play a number of sounds through the speaker, and this will allow them to make any adjustments they need through the hearing aid itself. When they have gathered all the necessary information they need, they can use it to program the exact specifications of your hearing aid. 

Discussing How your Hearing Aid Helps

Your audiologist will also work with you to talk about how your hearing aid operates and what you should expect when you are trying to get used to the new sound. They will also talk to you about the situations that you may find difficult to work with so that you can change or even adjust the hearing aid to get the maximum benefit. The audiologist will then talk to you about how to put the hearing aid in as well as talking about how to remove it. 

They may also talk to you about how to clean it. If you have a friend or even a family member who is going to be taking care of this for you, then you need to make sure they come with you. All in all, your audiologist is there to help and support you through any issues or questions you may have with your hearing aid, so make sure that you keep that in mind.

What Next?

When you have had your hearing aid fitted, you will then have to wait for the next appointment. This is usually a review appointment. This appointment can take up to half an hour, and it will assess how you feel about your hearing aid or if there are any changes you need to make. The review is to also find out how you have been getting on or if there are any other changes that need to be made, so it is very important to make a note of this. 

Your audiologist will also work with you to make sure that you are happy with the comfort level of the hearing aids you have or if there is anything that can be done to make you feel happier with them. Just make sure you’re open about the way you feel, and everything will work out.