What to Ask During a Hearing Aid Fitting

You visited an audiologist and have been diagnosed with hearing loss. Now what?

The next step after an initial appointment with an audiologist is the hearing aid fitting. This appointment, usually lengthy, includes selecting a hearing aid that is right for you, customizing it to meet your needs and ensuring it fits correctly through follow-up visits.

Assessing your needs

After a hearing loss diagnosis, it is important for an audiologist to understand your needs before making educated suggestions for hearing loss solutions. In order to make the best suggestions, your audiologist will ask questions about your lifestyle. Sample questions include:

• How active are you? What sports do you like to play?
• How social are you? How often do you go out? What do you like to do?
• Do you have grandchildren?
• Do you work? If so, what is your work environment like?
• Are you often in noisy environments? 

Along with the results of your hearing test, the answers to these questions will enable the audiologist to put together a handful of hearing loss solutions, typically hearing aids, that could help you hear better. Remember: hearing aids do not restore hearing.

Assessing your preferences

Along with determining your lifestyle, it is important for the audiologist to understand your preferences in hearing aids. Many types of hearing aids are available on the market. From analog to digital or visible to almost invisible, hearing aids come in all shapes, sizes and additional accessories. The type of hearing aid you want will be narrowed down by what you prefer or want in an aid. Sample questions your audiologist will ask to determine your preferences include:

• Do you want devices that are invisible?
• Do you want to be able to show off with color and style?
• Do you prefer total control or would you like something automated?
• Would you like accessories, such as Bluetooth?
• How dexterous are you? Is it difficult for you to handle small items?

Making a decision

Narrowing down the choices of hearing aids from the vast number available on the market will enable you to pick the best aid for you. Remember to talk with your audiologist about the best features, styles and options available to meet your specific hearing loss, lifestyle and budget needs.