Starting your journey with hearing aids can feel overwhelming, but understanding what happens during your hearing aid fitting appointment can help ease any concerns. At Sussex Audiology Centre, we’ve helped thousands of patients across our clinics in Hove, Haywards Heath, Goring, Lewes, Ferring, Eastbourne, and Storrington experience the life-changing benefits of properly fitted hearing aids. We’ll guide you through every step of your hearing aid fitting process, ensuring you feel confident and comfortable with your new devices.
Your hearing aid fitting represents a crucial milestone in your hearing care journey. This comprehensive appointment goes far beyond simply receiving your devices; it’s where we personalise your hearing aids to match your unique hearing profile, lifestyle needs, and comfort preferences. The fitting process typically occurs after your initial hearing assessment, where we’ve already established your degree of hearing loss and discussed suitable options.
During this appointment, we take time to ensure your devices are programmed precisely to your audiogram results, verify the settings using advanced measurement techniques, and teach you everything you need to know about using and maintaining your new hearing aids. This personalised approach ensures you leave our clinic feeling confident and ready to reconnect with the sounds that matter most to you.
Your first hearing aid appointment at our Sussex audiology clinic typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, allowing ample time for every aspect of the fitting process. We begin by reviewing your hearing test results and discussing any changes in your hearing or lifestyle since your assessment. This conversation helps us fine-tune our approach to meet your specific needs.
We’ll then unbox your new hearing aids together, explaining each component and feature. Whether you’ve chosen devices from Phonak, Oticon, Signia, or another leading manufacturer we offer, we ensure you understand your specific model’s capabilities. We’ll demonstrate how to insert and remove the devices correctly, showing you the proper technique to ensure comfort and optimal positioning.
The physical fitting involves checking that your hearing aids sit comfortably in or behind your ears. For custom hearing aids or earmolds, we verify the fit is secure without causing discomfort. For devices with domes or open fittings, we select the appropriate size to balance comfort with retention and sound quality.
Programming your digital hearing aids represents one of the most critical aspects of your fitting appointment. Using sophisticated software connected to your hearing aids, we input your audiogram data to create a baseline prescription for amplification. This prescription determines how much sound enhancement you receive at different frequencies, tailored specifically to your hearing loss pattern.
Modern digital hearing aids offer remarkable flexibility in programming. We can create multiple listening programmes for different environments, such as quiet conversations at home, busy restaurants, or enjoying music. We’ll discuss your typical daily activities and challenging listening situations to ensure your programmes address your real-world needs.
Real Ear Measurement (REM) verification forms an essential part of our fitting process. This objective measurement technique uses a tiny microphone placed in your ear canal to verify that your hearing aids are delivering the prescribed amplification. According to professional guidelines, REM is considered best practice for hearing aid fittings, ensuring your devices provide optimal benefit from day one.
Choosing private hearing aids through our clinic provides access to advanced customisation options that enhance your listening experience. We can fine-tune features such as directional microphones to help you focus on conversations in noisy environments, noise reduction algorithms to improve comfort in challenging situations, and feedback management systems to prevent whistling.
Many of today’s hearing aids offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream phone calls, music, and television audio directly to your devices. During your fitting, we’ll help you pair your hearing aids with your smartphone and demonstrate how to use any accompanying apps for remote control and adjustments. These technological features transform your hearing aids into sophisticated communication devices that seamlessly integrate with your daily life.
We also discuss and activate any special features relevant to your needs, such as telecoil settings for loop systems in public venues, tinnitus masking programmes if you experience tinnitus, or specific settings for musical instruments if you’re a musician.
Comfort remains paramount throughout your hearing aid fitting process. We understand that physical comfort directly impacts your willingness to wear your devices consistently, which is crucial for successful adaptation. We carefully assess how your hearing aids feel, making adjustments to eliminate any pressure points or irritation.
Sound comfort is equally important. While your brain needs time to readjust to hearing sounds you may have been missing, we ensure the initial settings aren’t overwhelming. We typically start with conservative amplification levels, allowing you to gradually acclimatise to your restored hearing. This approach helps prevent the common complaint of everything sounding “too loud” when first wearing hearing aids.
We’ll test your comfort with various sounds during the appointment, including your own voice, our conversation, and environmental noises. This real-time feedback allows us to make immediate adjustments, ensuring you leave feeling comfortable with your new hearing experience.
Understanding the adjustment period helps set realistic expectations for your hearing aid journey. Your brain requires time to reprocess sounds it may not have heard clearly for years. We typically recommend a gradual wearing schedule, starting with a few hours daily in quiet environments before progressively increasing usage time and venturing into more challenging listening situations.
During the first few weeks, you might notice sounds you haven’t heard in years, from the ticking of clocks to birds singing outside your window. Your own voice may sound different initially, a phenomenon called the occlusion effect, which usually diminishes as you adapt. According to research from RNID, consistent hearing aid use significantly improves adaptation success, with most people adjusting within two to four weeks.
We provide specific guidance on managing this transition period, including exercises to help your brain adapt more quickly and strategies for handling challenging situations as you build confidence with your devices.
At Sussex Audiology Centre, your hearing aid fitting marks the beginning of our ongoing partnership in your hearing care. We schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments as you adapt to your devices. These appointments, typically scheduled within the first few weeks after fitting, allow us to fine-tune your settings based on your real-world experiences.
Our comprehensive aftercare services ensure you always have support when needed. Whether you need assistance with cleaning and maintenance, replacement supplies, or adjustments to your programming, our team across all seven Sussex locations stands ready to help. We also offer home visits for patients who cannot easily travel to our clinics, maintaining the same high standard of care in the comfort of your own home.
Many patients find it helpful to bring a family member or friend to their fitting appointment. This support person can help remember important information and assist with practice exercises at home. As one of our patients shared: “Katie at Sussex Audiology made my whole experience of getting hearing aids very positive and so easy! Was supported the whole way through.”
During your fitting appointment, we provide comprehensive instruction on maintaining your hearing aids to ensure optimal performance and longevity. We demonstrate proper cleaning techniques using the tools provided with your devices, showing you how to remove earwax and debris that can affect sound quality.
For rechargeable models, we explain the charging process and battery management to ensure your hearing aids are always ready when you need them. For devices using disposable batteries, we show you how to change batteries safely and discuss expected battery life based on your usage patterns.
We also cover basic troubleshooting for common issues you might encounter, such as feedback, reduced volume, or connectivity problems. This knowledge empowers you to resolve minor issues independently while knowing when to seek professional assistance for more complex problems.
For patients requiring custom hearing aids, the fitting process includes verifying the precise fit of your personally moulded devices. These hearing aid styles offer unique advantages, particularly for those with specific ear canal shapes or severe hearing losses requiring maximum amplification.
We explore advanced features available in your chosen devices, ensuring you understand and can access all beneficial functions. Modern hearing aids offer sophisticated processing capabilities that can significantly enhance your listening experience in specific situations. Features like wind noise reduction for outdoor activities, music programmes for optimal enjoyment of your favourite songs, and spatial processing for better sound localisation all contribute to a more natural hearing experience.
For those interested in the latest technology, we demonstrate how artificial intelligence in some models learns your preferences over time, automatically adjusting settings based on your listening environment and habits. These smart features reduce the need for manual adjustments, allowing you to focus on conversations and activities rather than managing your devices.
Our hearing aid packages include various levels of ongoing support to match your needs and budget. During your fitting, we review what’s included in your chosen package, ensuring you understand the full scope of services available to you. This might include regular check-ups, warranty coverage, loss and damage insurance, and access to supplies and accessories.
We discuss the importance of regular hearing aid maintenance appointments, typically recommended annually or bi-annually, where we perform deep cleaning, replace worn components, and update programming as needed. These preventive care visits help maintain optimal performance and extend the life of your investment.
Understanding your warranty and trial period terms provides peace of mind as you begin your hearing aid journey. We explain the manufacturer’s warranty coverage, any additional protection plans, and our satisfaction guarantee, ensuring you feel confident in your investment in better hearing.
Your hearing aid fitting appointment represents a significant step towards reconnecting with the world of sound around you. By understanding what to expect during this comprehensive appointment, you can approach it with confidence and excitement rather than apprehension. Our experienced team at Sussex Audiology Centre remains committed to making your fitting experience positive, educational, and empowering, setting the foundation for successful long-term hearing aid use.
How long does a hearing aid fitting appointment typically take?
Your hearing aid fitting appointment at our Sussex audiology clinic typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. This allows sufficient time for programming, verification, instruction, and practice with your new devices. We never rush this important appointment, ensuring you leave feeling confident and comfortable.
Should I bring someone with me to my hearing aid fitting?
We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to your fitting appointment. They can provide valuable support, help remember important information, and assist with practice exercises at home. Their familiar voice also helps us fine-tune your hearing aids for optimal speech understanding.
Will my hearing aids be comfortable straight away?
While we work diligently to ensure physical comfort during your fitting, complete adaptation typically takes a few weeks. Initially, you might experience slight awareness of the devices in your ears, but this sensation usually disappears as you become accustomed to wearing them. We start with conservative settings to ensure sound comfort, gradually increasing as you adapt.
Can I adjust my hearing aids myself after the fitting?
Many modern hearing aids offer user controls through smartphone apps or onboard controls, allowing you to adjust volume and switch between programmes. During your fitting, we’ll teach you which adjustments you can make yourself and when to seek professional help for more complex changes to your programming.
How often will I need follow-up appointments after my fitting?
We typically schedule your first follow-up appointment within 2-4 weeks of your initial fitting. This allows time for you to experience various listening situations and identify any adjustments needed. After successful adaptation, we recommend annual check-ups to maintain optimal performance and address any changes in your hearing.
What happens if my hearing aids need adjustment after I leave?
Our comprehensive aftercare support means we’re always available to help with adjustments. Simply contact any of our seven Sussex locations to schedule an adjustment appointment. Many minor adjustments can be made quickly, and we offer free consultations to discuss any concerns about your hearing aid performance.
Don’t let hearing loss hold you back from enjoying life’s precious moments. Our expert team at Sussex Audiology Centre is ready to guide you through your personalised hearing aid fitting journey. With free hearing assessments and consultations available across all our Sussex locations, taking the first step has never been easier.
Contact us today at hello@sussexaudiologycentre.co.uk to schedule your hearing aid fitting appointment and discover how properly fitted hearing aids can reconnect you with the sounds you love.
25 April 2024
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