Hearing aid fitting information
If at your last appointment, it was agreed that you would like to try hearing aid(s), the Audiologist will have explained what type of hearing aid and earpiece is most appropriate for your hearing and what to expect at your fitting appointment and from your hearing aids.
On the day
If you wear glasses please bring them to your appointment. You are welcome to bring a family member, friend or carer to your appointment for support and we would encourage you to do so. When you arrive, ensure that you check-in at Clinic 8 reception. Please be aware that an audiology student may be present during the appointment. Sometimes a more experienced student will lead the appointment and will have an audiologist available to help them when required. We would appreciate the co-operation of patients in supporting our students in their training. Please let the audiologist know if you are uncomfortable with them being present and we will try to accommodate accordingly. Please allow approximately 60 minutes for this appointment.
Hearing aid fitting
Prior to fitting your hearing aid(s) the audiologist will check your ears and make sure that they are healthy and free from wax. We will then fit the earpiece and ensure that it is comfortable and connect your hearing aid(s) to the computer via a neck loop or wires to allow us to make adjustments.
As part of the fitting process, we will run various tests and take measurements throughout the appointment to make sure that the hearing aid(s) are set correctly. For any test that is required, the audiologist will explain the procedure before it is performed and make sure you are happy to continue.
- Initially, we will run a feedback test to eliminate any whistling or buzzing from the hearing aid(s). This involves a series of beeps and buzzes playing in each ear for a few seconds but you do not need to do anything.
- Next, your hearing aid(s) will be fine-tuned according to your hearing as well as the size and shape of your ears. This test involves placing a thin tube into the ear canal and playing some sounds through a speaker. You do not need to respond to these sounds but you will be asked to face a speaker in front of you. We will then also put the hearing aid in and play some more sounds so that the necessary adjustments can be made to fine-tune your hearing aids to your hearing prescription.
- Once the hearing aids are set to the correct prescription, the audiologist will make sure that you are happy and comfortable with the sound. It is normal for hearing aids to sound strange initially, but over time you should gradually acclimatise to the new sounds around you.
- The audiologist will demonstrate how the hearing aids work, how to look after them and you will have the opportunity to practise putting them in.
- If you have any questions at any point throughout your appointment please do not hesitate to ask. The audiologist will be happy to talk through any queries or concerns you may have.
- After you have been fitted with your hearing aids, you will be offered a follow up. This appointment is usually done via telephone approximately 8-10 weeks after your fitting, allowing the opportunity to discuss how you are getting on with your new hearing aids as well answer any further questions.
- In some cases, a follow-up appointment may not be required. If this is the case, your appointment will be left open so that you can contact us directly should you have any difficulties in the future.
- We recommend that you get your hearing aid(s) serviced every 6 months. We do not send out reminders for this.
Please see below for frequently asked questions:
Q: Will I have normal hearing with hearing aids in?
A: Hearing aids will not give you normal hearing. They will help to make sounds louder and clearer.
Q: Why does my voice sound strange?
A: Your brain needs time to re-acclimatise to sounds that you have not been hearing. It will sound strange to start with, but with perseverance and regular use, this should settle and become a more natural sound.
Q: What if the hearing aids are uncomfortable to wear?
A: Check that the hearing aids are properly inserted. Try to wear your hearing aids for short periods at a time and gradually increase this. If the hearing aids are causing pain or discomfort, then please contact us.
Q: Will I still struggle to hear?
A: Generally noisy situations where there is lots of background noise such as restaurants, supermarkets, having a conversation in the car, at family gatherings or large social situations can be difficult. Good use of communication tactics such as facing the speaker can help you manage this better. The phone can be tricky for some people but ensuring the phone is placed near the hearing aid microphone at the top of your ear instead of at your ear can help.
Q: What is the best way to get used to wearing my hearing aids?
A: The more you wear your hearing aids, the quicker you will get used to them. Your brain needs time to learn how to hear and listen to different sounds again so perseverance is key. It is common for things to sound strange at first but it will take time for you to get used to hearing speech and different background noises with your hearing aids.
Q: How often should I wear my hearing aid?
A: Ideally all day and every day is best. Even if you feel you can hear okay in some situations, it is still beneficial to wear the hearing aids as they will still pick up on sounds that you may not notice without them. Remember, you never know when you might need to hear something important such as the telephone or doorbell.
Q: I have two hearing aids, do I need to wear both together?
A: The hearing aids have been programmed to work as a pair and if you are only wearing one hearing aid, the settings may be incorrect for your hearing loss. It is beneficial to wear both together because it helps to give you a more balanced natural sound and make it easier to locate where sounds are coming from.
Q: Are there any other devices available to help with my hearing?
A: Yes, the Adult Deaf & Visual impairment service (ADVIS) provide a county-wide service for deaf people. They can help with extra equipment designed to help with things such as doorbells, telephones and televisions. Please ask your audiologist if you would like any further information.
Please see links below for further information
Getting to know your hearing aid – Slim tube https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/getting_to_know.html
Insertion / removal - slim tube https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/insertion.html
Getting to know your hearing aid - Earmould https://c2hearonline.com/custom_mould/getting_to_know.html
Insertion / removal - Earmould https://c2hearonline.com/custom_mould/insertion.html
Expectations https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/expectations.html
Acclimatisation https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/acclimatisation.html
Communication Tactics https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/comm_tactics.html
Using the Phone https://c2hearonline.com/openfit/alds.html