Hearing Aid Fitting and Programming
After an assessment, we will configure your hearing aids to suit your hearing needs based on your audiogram results. We will explain how to:
- Operate your new device
- Put them on properly
- Replace or charge the batteries
- Properly maintain your device
This is a fairly involved appointment and should take at least an hour or more, so make sure you reserve enough time to get the most out of the meeting.
An adjustment period
As a new user of hearing aids, you may hear sounds differently to what you had expected. This is completely normal. We’re on hand to make immediate adjustments to ensure you hear comfortably.
As you use your device in your everyday life, it’s important to remember that you will take some time to get used to the way sounds are experienced. To get the most out of your new devices, it’s vital that you maintain a positive attitude. Studies show that those who approach the process with an optimistic viewpoint are more likely to wear their hearing aids and adapt to them more quickly.
Live speech mapping
Our audiologists are firm believers in using live speech mapping to fit your hearing aids. This method uses speech as a way to help us tailor the hearing aid to your particular hearing needs. Bring a family member to the meeting. They will measure your ability to hear spoken voices.
What is involved in live speech mapping?
- We then place small microphones in your ear to measure what the hearing aid ‘hears.’
- We can then measure the performance of the hearing aid within the confines of your particular ear size and shape.
- We will then be able to measure what you hear as you hear it. This allows us to make small adjustments to adjust settings for optimal benefit to you.
What are the benefits?
When done right, live speech mapping increases the likelihood that you will be fully satisfied with the sound from the hearing aid, decreasing the number of office visits necessary to successfully program your hearing aids.
Every ear canal has a different shape. This makes it crucial to offer patient-centered adjustments to get the best sound possible for the person who will be wearing the device. Contact us at Independence Hearing to find out more about how live speech mapping can improve your hearing aid experience.