Once you have selected your hearing aids, our audiologist at Little Rock Audiology will need to fit and program the device to ensure optimal comfort and performance. During this appointment, your audiologist will tell you everything you need to know about the hearing aid, such as how to clean it, care for it and remove it from your ear.
If you have any questions about the device or the information you receive, this is a great opportunity to ask. Our audiologists can even give you written instructions to make sure you don’t forget any important details.
Understanding Your Hearing Aids
First, it’s important to understand that you may experience a variety of emotional responses when you first try on your new hearing aids. This is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about.
You should also know that the fitting process is designed to make your hearing aids more comfortable and effective. That means when you first try on your new hearing device, it’s unlikely to perform perfectly or feel perfectly comfortable.
This is also to be expected. It’s important to give the fitting process a chance before deciding that the hearing aid you’ve chosen isn’t a good option. But do be sure to discuss your concerns with your audiologist throughout the process so that they can do their best to resolve the issues throughout the fitting.
The Fitting Process
The fitting process for your hearing aid will typically involve some testing. This testing can be as simple as a short survey or more involved, such as live speech mapping.
Your hearing professional will work with you to ensure you get the best listening experience possible from your hearing aids, regardless of what type of testing is required.
It’s also worth mentioning that sometimes the hearing aid customization process takes part across multiple visits. You may need to try the hearing aid out in the real world for a little while to truly identify the right settings for your needs.
Hearing Aid Programming with Live Speech Mapping
In the past, hearing evaluations were relatively limited. Today, audiologists use live speech mapping to make the programming of your hearing aid more accurate. This is a method of fitting hearing aids based on real speech. The programming process becomes more interactive for the patient and helps to reduce the number of office visits required to find the right fit.
For your live speech mapping appointment, you’ll be asked to bring a friend or family member with you. They’ll help to gauge how effectively you’re hearing live voices by reviewing your real-time hearing data on a screen. The bottom line is that live speech mapping provides more accurate results faster so that you can find the perfect settings for your hearing aid sooner.
Adjusting to Hearing Aids
Adjusting to wearing hearing aids for the first time can be difficult. But attitude is everything. Multiple studies have shown that people with positive attitudes do better with hearing aids.
Asking your spouse and key family members to be positive about your hearing aid can help you maintain a cheerful outlook as well. It may take some time to fully adjust to your hearing aids, but you’ll get there with the help of your audiologist and family.