If you are worried about your hearing health, then speaking to an audiologist about your hearing aid potential is important. Audiologists are experts when it comes to hearing issues and a hearing aid fitting is crucial to ensure that you are going to receive the best possible care and benefit from their devices. Hearing aid fittings are not just about choosing the type of device that you want. There is an entire process involved that considers your hearing loss, your lifestyle and your comfort.

With the help of your audiologist, you’ll be able to determine the extent of your hearing loss before deciding what type of hearing aids you would want. There are many different types and they work with different levels of hearing loss. So, you need to ensure that you are choosing the right hearing aid for your exact circumstances. With this in mind, here are four fast facts about hearing aid fittings that your audiologist should talk you through and that you should know before you get there.

Customization is Key

A hearing aid isn’t something that is one-size-fits-all. There are different types of hearing aids in different shapes and sizes and during your hearing aid fitting, your audiologist is going to customize the setting of the device to match your specific hearing needs and your lifestyle. They’ll reduce the frequency response, the volume and other parameters – and to ensure that you have an optimal performance. These adjustments allow you to customize your hearing aids to fit your exact lifestyle needs.

You Need Real Ear Measurements (REM)

It’s never a good idea to buy hearing aids from the Internet. A real ear measurement is a critical part of the fitting process. This involves placing a tiny microphone within the ear canal to measure how the sound is amplified by the hearing aid. Audiologists will then be able to fine tune the settings to match your unique ear anatomy and your hearing profile so that you get the best possible experience.

Verification and Validation Measures

During the initial fitting, verification and validation measures are taken to ensure that the hearing aids are providing the benefit that you desire. A special equipment is used for verification to measure the sound output over the hearing aids in the ear canal. Validation involves subjective assessments by the wearer to confirm that the hearing aids are meeting their listing needs, so you need to communicate effectively with your audiologist.

Follow-Up Care is a Must

Your hearing aid fitting process doesn’t end with your appointment. You have to be able to monitor your progress with your audiologist and with your hearing aids. Regular appointments allow for ongoing counseling and support to help you to adapt to wearing hearing aids as well.

With the help of your audiologist, you’ll be able to learn why you’re hearing aid fitting is important. Talk to them about your concerns or your worries about wearing hearing aids and they’ll be able to give you the confidence that you need.