What to expect from your hearing aids
Most face-to-face audiology services are running a bit differently because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Contact your audiology provider to find out what services they are offering and how you can access them. If you need help finding contact details, please contact us.
We’ve put together a guide on what to do if you’re waiting for hearing aids to be fitted during the coronavirus outbreak.
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 and pitch for you.
They’ll play some sounds to measure the performance of the hearing aid and make sure it’s working properly. This can involve having a special microphone, which is a very thin tube, inside your ear 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 make adjustments based on your personal preferences and what feels right for you if necessary.
If you had a custom eamould made, they 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
- change the batteries
- use different programmes or volume control, if you have them
- put them in and take them out
- clean and maintain them.
They will also explain the process of getting used to your hearing aids and what to expect from them.
Your audiologist will also tell you where to get new batteries and how to book further appointments if you need one.
They’ll also explain your next steps and offer you a follow-up appointment, which could be face-to-face or over the phone.
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.
Don’t take it to 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.