Your fitting appointment is the day that you get to learn how to take care of your hearing aids and start your new hearing journey outside of the office. During your visit there will be an orientation to the parts of the hearing aid, information will be provided regarding care and maintenance, and you will practice putting the hearing aids in and out of the ears with Dr. Gauthier present to help you along the way. Much of the programming of the devices is completed prior to your visit, based on the in-office demonstration that was performed initially.
The fitting appointment is generally booked for 60-75 minutes depending on the type of devices and features chosen. It is also a good idea to bring a family member or close friend to the hearing aid fitting so they can help remember all the information that is given and be a support to you. You will be given a written user guide for the hearing aids, but feel free to take notes if you’d like.
Understanding and adjusting to your hearing aids:
Hearing loss doesn’t typically happen overnight, so getting used to hearing the sounds around you again will take some time. We strongly encourage our patients to wear their devices as much as they can. This allows for easier, faster, and more complete adaptation to the sound of the devices. It may also take time to get used to the care and insertion of the devices as well. Follow-up visits are great opportunities to ask questions and verify that you are doing things correctly. We offer a 30-day trail period with amplification and typically there are 3 visits during that period for
Attitude is another important aspect to success with hearing aids. Studies have shown that people who have a positive attitude do better with hearing aids. If you, as well as your spouse or family, approach your hearing aid fitting with a positive outlook you will have a much better listening experience more quickly. Keep in mind that it may take some time to get used to the sounds you were missing, and by working closely with your audiologist, you will get the most out of your new hearing aids.