There are many types of hearing aids, and the sizes and shapes that they can fit in your ears. How can hearing professionals ensure that your hearing aids fit your ears properly? It is a combination of sound and comfort.
THE PHYSICAL FIT
There are many options for fitting a hearing aid. A hearing professional will generally follow these four steps:
- Listen to the audiogram
What type of hearing aid would be best for you? Your hearing professional will conduct an initial hearing test to determine if you have hearing loss. Certain types of hearing loss may not be suitable for some hearing aids.
- Take into account your needs
Your hearing professional should be aware of any special requirements you may have regarding hearing aids. Are your hands shaking or are you suffering from arthritis? It is difficult to use small batteries. What color hearing aids do you prefer? For a more discrete look, choose one that matches your skin or hair color. If you use your hearing aids for fashion accessories, go with brighter colors.
- Take a look at your ears
An ear wire connects your hearing aid behind your ears to your ear via a small wire. Your ear size will determine the length of the ear wire used behind-the-ear. To determine the length of your wire, your hearing professional uses a small tool.
- Select an earmold
Once you have chosen your hearing aid type and wire, you can fit an earmold. Earmolds are pieces of plastic that hold the hearing aids speaker in place. There are two types: instant domes made from soft silicone and custom earmolds made of hard or flexible material. Your hearing professional will take an impression of your outer ear with a quick-drying silicone substance to determine if custom earmolds would be right for you. This will serve as the basis for your custom earmolds.
TIP! TIP! You will be able to correctly position your hearing aids when you return home if you take a picture.
FITTING SOUND
After your hearing aid is fitted comfortably in your ear, it’s time to program it to create the ideal sound environment. These steps are usually followed by a hearing professional to program your hearing aid.
- Programming your hearing aid
To determine how your hearing aids will work for you, your hearing professional will use special fitting software. The software can also be used to measure the acoustics in your ears and how hearing aids respond to it. This allows for a better fit.
- The hearing test
The hearing test will be repeated, this time with your aids on. This will allow you to determine the difference in your hearing with and without hearing aids.
- Final touches
Once you have agreed on the best fit and sound, your hearing professional will allow you to make small adjustments based upon real-world listening situations. If your hearing aids are not working properly after a few days, you can contact your hearing professional.
The adjustment phase
Hearing aids can take some time to get used to, especially for first-time users. The hearing aids’ sound reproduction may seem overwhelming for the first few days. It may also be difficult to distinguish the different sounds. You will eventually get used to hearing the new sounds as you use your hearing aids daily.
These are some tips that will help you make the transition easier.
- Take it slow. Wear your hearing aids only for a few hours at a stretch.
- Keep it quiet: At first, only use hearing aids when there are few people around and very little noise.
- Be gradual: Use the hearing aids gradually for longer periods of use in noisy environments and more frequently.
- Take a break during the day.
- Avoid pain. If your ears become sore, consult your hearing specialist. You can talk to them about the problem.
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