Using hearing aids can improve your quality of life by allowing you to hear and communicate more easily, participate in social activities and be more independent.
For maximum benefit, it is essential that these devices are fit by an Audiologist following a comprehensive hearing assessment, and periodically reviewed to optimise their performance for changes in your hearing and lifestyle.
What to expect from your hearing aid fitting appointment
During your 90-minute appointment, your hearing aids will be fitted to your ears and programmed for your hearing loss using best practice real-ear verification techniques. You will also be guided through all aspects of use and management of the devices.
Please note: You will be provided with a lot of information during this appointment. It is highly recommended that you attend with a family member or friend that can support you as you acclimatise to your new hearing aids, especially if you are a first-time hearing aid user.
Evaluating your new hearing aids
It is important to wear your new hearing aids as much as possible to promote acclimatisation and evaluate their performance in your unique listening environments. It can be helpful to take notes of your observations and experiences to report back to your Audiologist.
All new hearing aid fittings include a 30-day trial.
It may take longer for some people to adapt to their hearing aids, but we can usually be confident that we’re on the right track within the first month. For peace of mind, if you are not satisfied that the fitted devices are right for you, you can return them for a full refund during this time.
Follow-up fine-tuning is recommended until you are satisfied with all aspects of your hearing aid fitting, including physical comfort and ease of use, sound quality, and whether your listening needs are being met. To encourage proactive management of any ‘teething issues’, all fine-tuning appointments during the first 3 months are covered in the quoted hearing aid price.
Ongoing hearing aid use and maintenance
It is normal for hearing levels and listening needs to change over time. Periodic reviews of your hearing levels and device settings are recommended to ensure the devices continue to work optimally for you throughout their expected lifespan (average 5 years). For experienced users, this may be as little as an annual check-up, but others may need more frequent appointments, such as for aid adjustments, servicing & repairs, or wax management.
If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, please don’t hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. Your audiologist can also place you on a recall reminder system that suits your needs.
Persistence is key
Wearing new hearing aids may be frustrating at first, and possibly disappointing if you were hoping to have your hearing back to ‘normal’. It can take weeks or months for your brain to adapt to the new sound and learn to interpret it in a useful way, especially for people that have had untreated hearing loss for many years.
The best way to become a successful hearing aid user and overcome your hearing problem is to commit to wearing your hearing aids every day, even when there’s nothing ‘important’ to hear.
The world is full of sound. Immerse yourself in it and rediscover what you have been missing.
More questions?
Learn more about hearing aids and answers to some frequently asked questions on our hearing aids page. Alternatively, feel free to contact us for an obligation-free chat.
