Are you getting ready for your first hearing aid fitting? Here are a few ways to prepare, and a few questions to ask during the consultation. The appointment will be packed, so prepare you questions ahead of time, and bring along some paper and a pen to take notes.
During your hearing consultation and fitting, we’ll be going over a lot of information. This appointment is all about getting the fit right so that your hearing aids are completely comfortable. It’s also when we’ll make sure the hearing aids are calibrated to your hearing needs, and that they are helping you hear clearly. We’ll also talk about all the programs and settings on your devices, explain how to clean and maintain your devices, and give you tips on how to improve sound quality.
It’s a good idea to bring someone with you to the fitting appointment. They can take notes, ask additional questions, and help you keep track of everything that’s been said. After all, two heads are better than one, and having a friend along will help you remember all the information.
When you schedule your hearing consultation and fitting, make sure you give yourself lots of time for the appointment. You don’t want to feel rushed during the appointment, or worried about making it to another appointment or event. During the hearing consultation and fitting you’ll need to take in a lot of information about your hearing devices. Make sure you have adequate time so you can ask lots of questions and clarify any points you don’t fully understand.
An important question to ask is how often you should wear your hearing aids at first. If this is your first pair of hearing aids, it will take some time to adjust to how they fit, feel, and sound. Ask your hearing health specialist how much time you should spend wearing your hearing aids each day in the first few days. You can also ask about taking breaks during the day. As you get used to your new devices, you’ll start to wear them more often, and soon you won’t be able to imagine your life without hearing aids.
Hearing aids will make sounds seem a bit different than before. Hearing aids mimic natural hearing, but there are a few differences. At first, you’ll notice all these differences, but within a few days your brain will adjust, and sounds will seem natural. Sounds may not be perfect at first, so ask about the sound quality, and what to expect as your ears and brain adjust to your hearing aids.
We’ll go over exactly how you can clean and maintain your hearing aids. This is extremely important. Cleaning your devices every day will help you enjoy the best sound quality, decrease the number of repairs and maintenance, and even extend the life of your hearing aids. Make sure you fully understand how to care for your hearing aids, and ask lots of questions to make sure you’re doing it right.
During the hearing consultation and fitting we’ll show you how to change the programs and settings on your devices. Each person hears in a unique way, so you’ll need to take some time to familiarize yourself with the programs, and find the settings that work best for you. We want you to feel confident changing programs and settings, so ask us questions about which programs are best in which environments, and how you can adjust the settings.
Did you get all of that? During your first hearing consultation and fitting, you’ll get a lot of information all at once. Don’t worry, we’ll schedule a follow-up visit in a week or two to check the fit of your hearing aids. After you’ve had a few days to wear your hearing aids, we will make sure they’re perfectly calibrated to your hearing needs. It’s also a great time to ask any more questions you may have about your hearing aids. If you have any questions before your next appointment, please feel free to contact us today!
