Questions to Ask During a Hearing Consultation & Fitting

Questions to Ask During a Hearing Consultation & Fitting

If you have taken the leap and made an appointment to screen for hearing loss then congratulations are in order! Admitting you may have a hearing loss is often the most difficult step. Now it is time to prepare for your hearing evaluation, and hearing aid fitting. It is helpful to write down questions you may want to ask before the appointment to make sure all your questions can be asked. 

What should I expect?

It’s helpful to know what to expect before you begin your test. First of all,  your hearing specialist will ask you questions about your life, and family history. It’s important for the hearing specialist to understand your daily life and hearing needs, so they can find the best hearing aid for you

After the interview you will begin the hearing evaluations. The pure tone audio test occurs in a soundproof room and measures how well you hear sounds and try to find the softest sound level you can detect for a range of frequencies. This will give us an idea of your hearing ability in each ear. 

The speech test is used when a hidden hearing loss is suspected. A hidden hearing loss makes it more difficult to hear speech in noisy spaces. You will be asked to repeat sentences at descending volumes in order to deduce the quietest level you can comprehend speech. After this we will show you your audiogram and explain the results to you. This will give us an idea about the best treatment for your particular hearing loss.

Do I really need two hearing aids?

Often one ear will have more hearing ability than the other. Many refer to this ear as their good ear. The truth is that if a hearing loss is present in one ear, there is almost always a loss in the other as well, even if it is not as pronounced. Using two hearing aids emulates natural hearing in both ears. This is called binaural hearing and helps the brain localize sounds. With two hearing aids you have a better idea of where sounds are coming from, helping you to stay safer while navigating the world. This is especially helpful for seniors whose hearing loss can put them at a greater risk for falls and hospitalization.

How often should I wear my hearing aids?

Hearing aids can take a moment to get used to. For one thing, you have to get used to the sounds you haven’t heard in a while, like chirping of birds and the wind in the trees. Even the sound of your own voice may seem strange at first. It is okay to take hearing aid breaks at first, but by two weeks you should acclimate to wearing your hearing aids from the moment you wake up till the time you go to sleep. This allows you to remain alert while socializing, hear emergency alarms, drive a car or any other sounds that you need to hear during the day.

How do I care for my hearing aids?

Using your hearing aids everyday, all day can put a lot of wear on these complicated and tiny devices. As you may imagine they can become very dirty, accumulating debris, earwax and sweat. It is important to gently remove debris from your hearing aids at least weekly to keep them from clean and working their best. Sweat can be particularly damaging for hearing aids, as none are completely waterproof. It is recommended to keep your hearing aids dry as possible and place them in a dehumidifying case at night to remove any moisture from sweat that may have accumulated. 

Can I adjust the settings?

Even after a hearing test it often takes a while to find the perfect settings for your hearing aids. You may have to visit us one or two times to make sure the settings are perfect. Of course during the day we enter different listening environments. Many hearing aids today have different settings that adjust automatically or manually. For instance there are separate settings for outdoors, in crowded rooms or while playing music.

Amazing technology

Hearing aids have so much to offer these days. Take advantage of this amazing technology that only continues to become more advanced. If you haven’t already, make an appointment today to have your hearing tested and find out what hearing aids can do for you.