Your hearing aid fitting appointment
Having hearing aids fitted takes around 1 hour.
Your audiologist will adjust your hearing aid to the right volume for you, based on your hearing test results. Your hearing aid settings are unique to you.
What to expect at your appointment
Your audiologist will play some sounds to measure the performance of the hearing aids and make sure they’re working properly.
This can involve having a special microphone, which is a very thin tube, inside your ear canal for a few minutes. This might be a bit ticklish, but shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
Your audiologist will check that you’re happy with the quality and volume of the sound. They can adjust the sound if necessary, based on your preferences.
If your hearing aids have a custom earmould, the audiologist will check this fits properly and make sure it feels comfortable.
If you’re getting an open fitting or RITE hearing aid, they will make sure you have the right size of tube and dome. This can also be changed if you’re not happy with it.
Your audiologist will show you how to use your new hearing aids. This will include how to:
- switch them on and off
- put them in and take them out
- change or recharge the batteries
- use different programmes and the volume control, if you have them
- clean and maintain them, including where to get new batteries and tubing
Your audiologist should also explain what to do if your hearing aids are not working properly and how to get them repaired.
They’ll explain your next steps and offer you a follow-up appointment. This could be face-to-face or over the phone.
Putting in your hearing aids
If you have two hearing aids, your audiologist should have marked which one is for which ear. The marker is always red for the right ear and blue for the left.
If your hearing aids are not inserted correctly, they will not work as well as they should – you might hear a whistling sound and they could make your ears sore.
Choose the type of hearing aids you have for instructions on how to put them in correctly.
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- Hold the main part of the hearing aid behind your ear and place the soft earpiece over the top of your ear, facing your ear canal.
- Place the earpiece in your ear canal with the ‘tail’ of the tubing facing backwards, if there is one. Push the earpiece in as far as it will comfortably go.
- If there is a tail, fold it back into the bowl of your ear. Sometimes, when it’s new, the tail doesn’t stay in place, but after a few days it should mould itself to the shape of your ear.
Watch a video on how to fit your hearing aids correctly on the C2Hear website.
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- Hold onto your hearing aid so that the part that goes into the ear canal is pointing the correct way.
- Gently push the hearing aid into the ear as far as it will comfortably go.
- If it feels uncomfortable or difficult, carefully remove the hearing aid and try again. Some in-the-ear hearing aids have a small plastic ‘stalk’ that you can hold to make removing the hearing aid easier.
Most in-the-ear hearing aids are custom made and come in different shapes and sizes. If you have problems putting them in or taking them out, discuss it with your audiologist.
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- Hold your hearing aid near your ear and place the part of the earmould that goes down the ear canal into position.
- Use your other hand to pull down your earlobe and push the earmould firmly into the bowl of your ear.
- Place the main part of the hearing aid behind your ear.
Make sure the top part of the earmould is tucked into the top of the bowl of your ear.
Watch a video on how to fit your hearing aids correctly on the C2Hear website.