What to expect from your hearing aids
Hearing aid fitting appointment
Having hearing aids fitted takes around 1 hour.
Your audiologist (a hearing health professional) will use the results of your hearing test to programme your hearing aid to the right volume for you.
They’ll play some sounds to measure the performance of the hearing aids and make sure they’re working properly. This can involve having a special microphone, which is a very thin tube, inside your ear canal for a few minutes. This might be a bit ticklish, but shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
Your audiologist will check that you’re happy with the quality and volume of the sound. They can adjust the sound if necessary, based on your preferences.
If your hearing aids have a custom earmould, the audiologist will check this fits properly and make sure it feels comfortable. If you are having an open fitting or RITE hearing aid they will make sure you have the right size of tube and dome. This can also be changed if you’re not happy with it.
Your audiologist will also show you how to use your new hearing aids. This will include how to:
- switch them on and off
- put them in and take them out
- change the batteries
- use different programmes and the volume control, if you have them
- clean and maintain them.
They will also explain the process of getting used to your hearing aids and what to expect from them.
They’ll also explain your next steps and offer you a follow-up appointment. This could be face-to-face or over the phone. Your audiologist will also tell you where to get new batteries and how to book further appointments when needed.
Listening to background sounds with your hearing aids
At first, you might find normal background noises louder than you’re used to. These might include:
- the hum of a fridge
- the ticking of a clock
- the turning of a newspaper page
- the rustling of paper
- footsteps on hard surfaces
This is because your brain might not have heard these sounds at their correct levels for some time, and it will take a little while for your brain to learn that this sound is normal. Your own voice may also sound different.
This doesn’t mean that hearing aids aren’t right for you. It just takes a bit of time for your brain to adapt, so it’s important you keep going with your hearing aids.
If things just don’t seem right after wearing hearing aids for a while, you should see your audiologist in case they need to change anything.