How to Prepare for Your Hearing Aid Fitting

If you have a hearing aid fitting, you may be unsure what to expect and how to prepare for this appointment. Hearing aid fittings are important because they allow your audiologist to fine-tune your hearing aid to the exact specifications you need to benefit most from it. If you're looking for a way to prepare for this appointment, consider the following things you can do.

Leave plenty of time

Many people aren't familiar with what occurs during a hearing aid fitting and how long this appointment may take. Ideally, try to allot at least an hour for this visit, possibly more if you think you will have several questions to go over. During your hearing aid fitting, the audiologist will program your hearing aid to fit your specific needs, in addition to showing you how to insert and remove your device correctly. You will also learn how to properly clean, maintain and care for your new hearing aids.

Take a family member or friend with you

If possible, it is a good idea to take a companion with you to your hearing aid fitting. Having someone accompany you to the appointment can be helpful because your friend or family member may be able to remember points that you forget or catch instructions that you did not fully understand. It is also good to have someone there for you who understands your needs so that they can help you get used to your hearing aids in everyday life.

Write a list of questions

It is a good idea to jot down a list of questions that you want to ask your audiologist during the hearing aid fitting. Some of the questions that you may want to ask include:

• How long does the battery last?
• How often should I clean my hearing aid?
• What happens if I am unhappy with my hearing aid?
• What shall I do if my hearing aid accidentally get wet?
• How do I know if it is time to change my battery and how do I do so?
• What happens if I don’t like the way my hearing aid sounds?
• Shall I wear my hearing aid all of the time or do I need to follow a specific schedule?
• How do I care and maintain my hearing aid?

Take a notebook with you

Don’t be afraid to take a pen and some paper with you to your hearing aid fitting. This will enable you to take some notes so that you do not forget anything when you get home. As you can see from the number of questions that were presented in the previous section, there is a lot of information that is going to be given to you during your hearing aid fitting. The last thing you want to do is forget anything so taking notes can be very useful.