If you have hearing loss, the first thing to do is to call an audiologist. There is plenty that they will be able to do to help you, and one of the most likely courses they will take is to suggest you get a hearing aid fitted. With so many types of hearing aids out there and so much to consider, you might well find it important to come as prepared as possible to that hearing aid fitting. In this article, we will take a brief look at what tends to occur during a hearing aid fitting. Here are some things you can expect.

How long does a fitting take?

You might be interested to know how long you can expect to spend with your audiologist to have a hearing aid fitted. Most of the time, a hearing aid fitting lasts around one to two hours, depending on how many questions you have, what type of hearing aids and features you select.

What happens during a hearing aid fitting?

So, what can you expect to take place during a standard hearing aid fitting? The first thing that will happen is your audiologist will discuss with you the uses of hearing aids and their function, especially in relation to your own hearing loss situation. That will invariably involve a discussion of the various types of hearing aid, of which there are three main types: in the canal (ITC), behind the ear (BTE) and in the ear (ITE). Your audiologist will explain which is likely to be best for you, and which will therefore be fitted on the day. After that, an examination will take place during which the audiologist will ensure that your ears are in a decent condition, and make sure that it is safe to continue with your hearing aid fitting. They will likely also talk with you about some of the things you can expect when it comes to getting used to the hearing aid, including a description of how different things might sound for a while.

Different types of hearing aid

Depending on the type of hearing aid you need to have fitted, this can influence what happens during the fitting itself. For instance, if you are having a BTE hearing aid, you might have it fitted on the same day as your hearing test. However, in-the-ear style hearing aids require a mold to be made, so it might be more than one session.

How does it feel?

It’s important to note that having a hearing aid fitted does not feel out of the ordinary to most people. You don’t need to worry about how it is going to feel. The only thing you might experience is a reduction in hearing while the fitting is taking place.