When your audiologist recommends hearing aids, selection is only the beginning of the process. Equally important is the fitting, which involves programming your hearing aids and making adjustments to provide the correct levels of amplification and automatic processing for your particular hearing loss. Orientation and counseling is a necessary step to ensure you have realistic expectations, and is crucial for long-term success.
What Is Hearing Aid Counseling?
Before you ever put on hearing aids, you’ll receive counseling to prepare you for this change in your lifestyle. While hearing aids will undoubtedly improve your communication abilities, it is important to understand they are not a cure for hearing loss, and do have certain limitations. Learning what to expect beforehand will help you achieve the maximum benefit from your hearing devices.
How Are Hearing Aids Fitted?
At Elevate Audiology, we follow best practices for hearing aid fitting and follow-up care. Based on all of our previous decisions and discussions, we fit the hearing aids to physically fit your ears. We do want them to be comfortable and allow you to adjust to having them in your ears. They will then be programmed and adjusted based on your test results and listening preferences along with Real Ear Measurements.
Upon completion of your evidence-based fitting, we will then discuss care and maintenance of your hearing aids. You will learn how to use them correctly and make adjustments for different hearing environments, insert and remove them, charging or changing the batteries and clean and care for them properly. You will also learn tips and strategies for better communication.
Real Ear Measurements
There is substantial evidence indicating patient benefit, outcomes, and satisfaction improve when real ear measures are part of the treatment plan and fitting process. Typically performed on the day of fitting of hearing aids, this critical objective measurement merges the patient’s hearing test results with their ear canal shape and size and the scientifically-prescribed hearing aid algorithm. As the measurements are running, the audiologist makes programming adjustments and/or changes how the devices are couple to the ear.
Unfortunately, few providers perform real ear measurements. A proper hearing aid fitting is not complete without this critical measurement.
Programming services are available for nearly all hearing aids that are “unlocked”. Please let us know the make and model of your devices during your phone call so we can make sure we’re able to help you.
Customized Fit with Otoscan
We’re proud to offer the latest in hearing aid innovation and the only practice in the Upstate that utilizes the awesome technology of the Otoscan. Otoscan is a digital laser ear scanner used in place of traditional earmold impressions for custom molds and custom hearing aids that will help you get the best fit possible for your new hearing aids.
Otoscan helps streamline the production of custom in-ear pieces. It works by taking 3D digital files uploaded to an online portal and making them available for immediate use in the hearing instrument manufacturing process. Otoscan is easy, painless and free, in addition to being the most accurate way to ensure that your hearing loss is treated in the best way possible.
What Kind of Follow-Up Care Can I Expect?
We have a method at Elevate Audiology to ensure the maximum success for our patients. A follow-up visit will typically be scheduled one week after your initial fitting. During this appointment, your audiologist will review your progress, fine-tune and adjust your hearing aids as needed and answer any questions you may have. A second follow-up is then scheduled two weeks later. It may take a while to adjust your hearing aids to their maximum effectiveness, so additional appointments for adjustments may be needed.
Ongoing care is very important. Based on the needs of the individual, hearing wellness checks occur once per quarter or twice per year. Additional appointments and services are always available- we’re only a phone call, email, or click away!
Call Elevate Audiology at (864) 442-5555 for more information or to schedule an appointment.