The process of getting a new hearing aid is both an exciting and educational experience. Once you’ve had your hearing tested, discussed your options during the evaluation appointment and made a selection, you will schedule your hearing aid fitting and programming visit. During this appointment with an audiologist at Hear in MetroWest, you will learn the ins and outs of your new devices; including things like repair & maintenance, proper handling and usage.
Learning About Your Devices
One of the most important aspects of a fitting is learning how to actually use your new hearing aids. This information is vital – even for well-versed wearers – as the technology is constantly evolving and new devices require new instructions. Your audiologist will want to check the physical fit of your device, which will also be a great time for you to learn about the proper way to insert and remove your hearing aids, as well as handle them when you are putting them up for storage.
Additionally, your audiologist will talk to you about establishing a care routine for your devices. While this maintenance regimen isn’t tough, it’s important to stick to one to help your hearing aids perform optimally. Typically, devices should be wiped down with a dry cloth after daily usage, and then checked routinely for any cracked tubes, physical damage to the outer casing or clogged ports. Your audiologist can also perform professional cleanings in the office, so ask about setting up a schedule for that. Professional cleanings can help preserve the lifespan of the device and gives you a chance to stay ahead of any potential problems before they become more complex.
Programming the Hearing Aids
Based on the results of your hearing test, the audiologist will program your devices to your unique hearing profile. During this process, we use live speech mapping to better define the best frequencies and levels for your new technology. Live speech mapping creates a more customized listening experiences, decreasing the need for more adjustments. To ensure the best results, we’ll place microphones into the ear canal to measure what sounds your hearing aids are picking up. This enables us to adjust these levels to line up with what you’ll need to hear. During this time, you’ll be able to provide feedback in real-time so any slight fluctuations can be addressed and adjusted at the same visit.
The hearing aid fitting is only one step on your journey to hearing health. It may take some time for you to adjust physically and emotionally to the reality of your improved hearing as you realize what you may have missed out on, and it can be an on-going process. During those first few weeks of adjusting, it’s important to pay attention to the sounds you are hearing and how they change as you become more used to your devices. Keeping a positive attitude is key to having a positive experience but be sure to reach out to your Hear in MetroWest audiologist if you have any questions about your new devices.
