When your audiologist recommends hearing aids, selection is only the beginning of the process. Equally important is the fitting, which involves programming your hearing aids and making adjustments to provide the correct levels of amplification for your particular hearing loss. Counseling is a necessary step to ensure you have realistic expectations, and is crucial for long-term success.
Before you ever put on hearing aids, you’ll receive counseling to prepare you for this change in your lifestyle. While hearing aids will undoubtedly improve your communication abilities, it is important to understand they are not a cure for hearing loss, and do have certain limitations. Learning what to expect beforehand will help you achieve the maximum benefit from your devices.
A follow-up visit will be scheduled a few weeks after your initial fitting. During this appointment, your audiologist will fine-tune and adjust your hearing aids as needed and answer any questions you may have. It may take a while to adjust your hearing aids to their maximum effectiveness, so additional appointments for adjustments may be needed.
When you visit your audiologist at Evergreen Speech and Hearing Clinic, they’ll make sure your hearing aids fit comfortably. They’ll also program and fine-tune them to match your hearing loss and lifestyle. Once they’re ready, the audiologist will place the hearing aids in your ears and turn them on, checking the volume levels to ensure you can hear a full range of sounds clearly.
After that, they’ll walk you through how to take care of your hearing aids. You’ll learn how to use them in different environments, insert and remove them, change the batteries, and keep them clean. They’ll also share practical tips for better communication to help you get the most out of your hearing aids.
