Your Hearing Aid Fitting
Your Audiologist has been university-trained earning not only an undergraduate degree but also a Doctoral degree in Audiology. They will be licensed to identify, evaluate, diagnose, and treat your hearing loss. On the basis of our education, extensive training and skill set, we are the most qualified to assess/treat hearing loss and fit hearing aids.
Medicine has been described as an art and a science; this is also directly applicable to the selection and fitting of hearing aids. It can be partially “art” to learn the listening needs and lifestyle of a patient and partially “science” to know how the correctly set and adjust the aids to the patient’s hearing loss. This is a constant balance of technology and features with needs and expectations.
Purchasing hearing aids are not like making most other purchases in your life such as a TV or even glasses. Hearing aids must be specifically adjusted and programmed to the individual needs of each patient, this is not something successfully completed over the internet, phone, mail, or by an untrained individual.
The most important component in the selection and fitting of hearing aids is the relationship and rapport established between the patient and audiologist. The features and technology in hearing aids can only be unlocked by your audiologist, so it is imperative that you have a good relationship so that they can know how you need the hearing aid to work best for you. Without taking the time to get to know each individual patient and their needs, it is impossible to select the exact device that will work for them.
12 STEPS TO YOUR HEARING AID FITTING
- The initial evaluation or hearing exam (approximately 45-60 minutes). If hearing aids are recommended, a demonstration can be completed or scheduled for a later date to take approximately 60 minutes.
- After testing is completed and all your questions are answered, you and your audiologist will decide on the best hearing aid solution for you.
- Your hearing aids are ordered and a fitting appointment will be scheduled.
- The fitting appointment (approximately 60 minutes).
- At the initial fitting, your instruments will be programmed.
- Verification/validation the aids are appropriately amplified to your individual needs.
- You will be instructed on the care/maintenance of your hearing aids.
- The warranty information will be explained.
- After your initial fitting, Dr, Griffith will call you within 24-48 hours follow-up with you.
- A follow-up appointment will be scheduled 1-2 weeks following your initial appointment.
- The follow-up appointment is utilized to reiterate care and maintenance information and also to determine if any adjustments need to be made to the aids after wearing them for 1 week.
- Follow up appointment frequency will be determined at each subsequent appointment typically after initial fitting and follow up regular check-ups are scheduled ever 3-4 months