Hearing Aid Fitting & Counseling
What to Expect at Your Fitting: Adjustment, Care & Follow-Up
Hearing Aid Fittings
For hearing aids to perform optimally it is necessary that they are professionally fit and fine-tuned to the individual. An audiologist will ensure your hearing aids fit comfortably and provide you with the correct levels of amplification for your particular hearing loss. The hearing aids will be placed in your ears and turned on, allowing the hearing specialist to measure the volume levels to ensure you are hearing the full range of sounds properly.
What is Hearing Aid Counseling?
Before you ever put on hearing aids, you’ll receive counseling to prepare you for this change in your lifestyle. While hearing aids will undoubtedly improve your communication abilities, it is important to understand they are not a cure for hearing loss and do have certain limitations. Learning what to expect beforehand will help you achieve the maximum benefit from your devices.
Hearing Aid Follow-Up Care
A follow-up visit will be scheduled a few weeks after your initial fitting. During this appointment, your audiologist will fine-tune and adjust your hearing aids as needed and answer any questions you may have. It may take a while to adjust your hearing aids to their maximum effectiveness, so additional fitting appointments may be needed.
Which Hearing Aid is Right for Me?
With all these advances in hearing aid technology, devices are better at providing clear sound than ever before. While the choices may seem overwhelming, working closely with your audiologist at ENT of Athens can help you figure out which technology and features are perfect for your needs.
Narrowing the choices down can be tough, but there are a few important things you should take into consideration before choosing a hearing aid.
- What are your hearing needs?
- What are your lifestyle needs?
- What is your cosmetic preference?
- What is your budget?
Using this information our audiologists will work with you to find the right hearing aid that matches your criteria and will help you hear better.
Hearing Aid Repairs
Hearing aids are built to provide many years of useful service. However, regular exposure to a harsh environment means they will occasionally encounter problems. Regular maintenance can help keep them in great working condition, but occasionally they may need servicing or repair. ENT of Athens can help. If you have tried the troubleshooting tips below and still can’t get your hearing aids to work properly, please contact us to schedule an evaluation.
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aids
If your hearing aids aren’t working properly, try the following techniques for a quick fix.
If there is no sound:
- Make sure the battery is inserted correctly.
- Replace the battery if you suspect it is dead or weak.
- Remove excess earwax from the earmold or replace the wax guard.
- Check tubing for wax buildup or moisture; clean with a blower tool.
- Make sure the hearing aid isn’t accidentally set to telecoil mode.
If you are experiencing feedback or whistling:
- Remove and reinsert your hearing aids.
- Turn down the volume.
- Make sure there is nothing blocking or covering your hearing aids.
- Have your doctor check your ears for excess wax and remove if necessary.
If the sound is weak or distorted:
- The battery may be dead or weak; replace it.
- Open the battery compartment and clean the contacts with a dry cloth.
- Clean the earmold or tubing with wax removal tools; replace wax guard.