Hearing aids are considered to be an investment, something that will add value to a person’s daily activities. It’s not just a device, it’s a hearing solution that, if programmed and fitted correctly, can enhance communication and social interaction.
At Doctors Hearing Care, we see to it that our hearing aid fittings are accurate, and comprehensive, matching our patients’ hearing requirements to a tee.
What to Expect During Hearing Aid Fittings
Prior to a hearing aid fitting, a hearing test will be performed to get a baseline of the softest and loudest sound a patient can hear. Feedback or noise picked up by the hearing aid will be adjusted based on the hearing test results.
Aside from a hearing test, other factors that need to be considered prior to a hearing aid fitting include:
- hearing aid style
- hearing aid technology
- budget
- lifestyle
- features
- battery
- accessories
Our audiologists at Doctors Hearing Care will walk you through various hearing aids to help you make the right choice. Hearing aid fittings mean more than just literal “fitting” – it includes selection, programming, adjusting, and making a patient feel comfortable and satisfied with their chosen hearing device.
Hearing Aid Fitting and Real Ear Measurement
Although real ear measurement is not a required procedure for hearing aid fittings, most audiologists consider real ear verification as the gold standard in getting an accurate fitting.
What is real ear measurement?
Real ear measurement refers to measuring various sound levels in a hearing aid wearer’s ear canal. This allows audiologists a closer look into the performance of a hearing aid beyond the data given by a hearing test. Through real ear measurement, we can get a glimpse of how much amplification a hearing device is providing while it is inside the ear(s).
At Doctors Hearing Care, we make sure to go by the best practices in the hearing healthcare industry, and that includes real ear measurements to provide the best hearing aid fittings for our patients.
How is real ear measurement done?
Real ear verification or real ear measurement is done by inserting a thin tube into the ear canal. The thin tube is connected to a microphone designed to gauge the volume of sound received in the eardrum. The patient’s hearing aid will also be put into the ear while the microphone is in the ear canal. By doing so, audiologists can measure the sound based on the output of the hearing aid in the patient’s ear.
Why is real ear measurement necessary?
Real ear measurement provides the closest, most accurate verification possible. Without real ear measurements, even the most expensive or latest hearing aids on the market will not be as powerful or efficient.
To fully appreciate the concept of real ear measurement, you need to understand that hearing loss is unique for each person. Just like fingerprints, hearing loss is different for each person. Even the level of hearing loss in the right ear may be different in the left ear of the same individual. That being said, real ear measurements can help bridge the gap between how a patient should hear and how loud the device should be programmed or adjusted.
While not all audiologists practice real ear measurement during hearing aid fittings, audiologists at Doctors Hearing Care perform real ear verifications as part of our best practices.
Hearing Aids and Audiologists – New Albany, IN
Thriving through hearing loss takes more than just getting a hearing aid. It entails a highly-detailed process of hearing aid evaluation, hearing aid fitting, and programming, combined with the expertise of a reliable audiologist and support from family and loved ones.
Doctors Hearing Care wants to be part of your successful hearing aid journey. We work with some of the best hearing aid brands in the industry including Phonak, Oticon, and ReSound.
For any questions or concerns about hearing aid fittings and related hearing healthcare services, we are just one call away. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!