Hearing Aid Fittings

When you put the hearing aids in your ears and they are turned on for the first time, you may have different emotions about all of the new sounds you are able to hear. This is normal and to be expected. The goal of hearing aids is to make every day sounds more audible and to improve your communication ability. Here are 6 things that are critical for a successful fitting:

1. Getting used to wearing your new instruments

Now that you’ve purchased new hearing aids, an adjustment period is needed to become comfortable hearing all of the sounds that you’ve missed in the last few years. Some people will adjust right away to their new hearing aids, but everyone improves over time.

2. One’s own voice may sound different

Hearing aids will amplify your own voice. Therefore, your own voice may sound different or loud. This is normal and a part of the adjustment period. You will get used to hearing “you” again.

3. Hearing aids are not “new ears”

Most people with hearing loss have a permanent type of loss that affects the nerve transmission of sound. Hearing aids cannot correct this permanent damage —they cannot restore a person’s hearing to normal. Hearing aids simply provide assistance to help you hear and process sounds better.

4. Help from friends and family

Hearing loss poses difficulties for everyone involved. Remember – communication is a two-way street. It is the listener and the speaker. You will have help from your hearing aids and you should expect help from your communication partners. It is ok to ask them to follow the rules of effective communication: get my attention first, look directly at me and speak slower, not louder.

5. Have realistic expectations


Remember, in a noisy restaurant or at a party most people, even those with normal hearing, cannot hear perfectly. They sometimes misunderstand the dialog at the movies or on TV. You shouldn’t expect to hear everything perfectly all the time.

6. Attitude is everything

Attitude is an important key to your success with hearing aids. Hearing aid studies have shown that people with a positive attitude do best with their devices. If you, as well as your spouse or family, approach your hearing aid fitting with a positive outlook, you will have a much better listening experience more quickly. Keep in mind that it takes time and practice to get used to the sounds you were missing.

Another very important part of a successful hearing aid fitting is the administration of Real Ear Verification Measurements. This is a Best Practices procedure that ensures that your hearing aids have been fitted appropriately. Real Ear is quick and painless. Simply put, it is how we assess, measure and record exactly what your hearing aids are doing in your ears.

Post-fitting adjustments to your new hearing aids are often necessary and expected. Remember that your hearing loss did not happen overnight and most people are not fit with the full prescription for their hearing loss during the initial fitting. As you adjust to your new hearing aids and the new world of sound, we will continue to monitor your progress and gradually increase the strength of your prescription.

Schedule Your Real Ear Verification Measurements