4 Questions to Ask During Your Hearing Aid Fitting

Getting new hearing aids requires a hearing aid fitting. Your audiologist will help to fit your hearing aids so that they feel comfortable and give you the best sound. If you've never had hearing aids fitted before, you might have a few questions about the process and about your hearing aids. However, you could also be unsure about which questions you should be asking. There are some things that you should make sure you know before you go home with your new hearing aids. Take a look at the questions below to understand some of the questions you need to ask and why you should ask them.

1. How do I control my hearing aids?

Your hearing aids will have different settings and features that you can use to make the most of them. At the very least, you should be able to control the volume on your hearing aids. Ask your audiologist how to turn the volume up and down, select different programs and change the settings. Some hearing aids will automatically change programs in different environments, so remember to ask if your hearing aids do that. You might have a telecoil that you can turn on to tune into a closed-loop audio system or perhaps you will have Bluetooth or other wireless technology.

2. How do I care for my hearing aids?

Looking after your hearing aids helps you make sure they last longer, keep working well and don't require repairs. Your audiologist should show you what you need to do to take care of your hearing aids. Some tasks you might need to perform include cleaning your hearing aids so that they don't get blocked with earwax or other substances. Your audiologist might suggest a useful cleaning kit. There are also some things you can do to look after your hearing aids, such as protecting them from moisture.

3. How do I change the battery?

One of the things you'll be doing regularly is changing the batteries in your hearing aids. Different batteries last different amounts of time, so some can last months while others only last weeks. Start by making sure you know which of the standard hearing aid batteries you need. As well as having numbers, they are also color-coded so it's easy to find the ones that you need. Ask your audiologist to show you how to change the batteries, as well as how to recognize when they need to be changed.

4. What if there's a problem?

Before you leave your audiologist's office, ask what you should do if you have any problems with your hearing aids. You might make an appointment for a checkup so that you can address any potential issues in a few weeks. Your audiologist can make adjustments if your hearing aids don't feel comfortable in your ear or if you think they don't sound right. You can also just return if you have any questions. You might also get some useful resources that you can use if you have any questions or concerns.

Try writing down some questions to ask before your fitting and take notes during the appointment too.