3 Reasons A Hearing Aid Fitting Is Important

Hearing aids are one of the most common and effective treatments for people of all ages who have hearing loss. Many people discover the need for hearing aids later in life – and rather than visit an audiologist – decide to order a hearing aid directly from a third-party supplier. This might seem like a more cost-efficient solution to your hearing loss, but it’s not the best solution. Here are a few of the key reasons a hearing aid fitting with an audiologist is so strongly encouraged among the hearing health community.

1. Direct-to-consumer hearing aids are often poorly fit and poorly programmed, which leads many people to stop using them, altogether. 

Saving money on your hearing aids is important, but hearing well – and comfortably – is more important. A hearing aid that doesn’t work well or irritates your ears won’t be something you’ll want to wear for years to come.

 An audiologist can provide a custom fitting for the physical fit of your hearing aid with earmold impressions, and they also have the expertise and equipment to program your hearing aid to your specific amplification needs by gathering real ear measurements.

2. An audiologist is qualified to not only treat your hearing loss with hearing aids, but to detect the cause of hearing loss and any other medical concerns that need to be treated.

A hearing aid fitting with an audiologist is based off a physical exam and a series of advanced audiological tests. This process means you’ll be fit with the best possible hearing aid or another device that better suits your needs. For instance, if you experience tinnitus, an audiologist may also fit you with a tinnitus masker or hearing aid with a setting designed to help with tinnitus. Finally, if you have any medical concerns, your audiologist will be able to detect and treat it or refer you to another professional.

3. A hearing aid fitting is more than just a fitting; it’s a consultation.

During a hearing aid fitting with an audiologist, the priority is to get your hearing aid fitting and working optimally for you, but it also includes training, advice, counsel and the promise of follow-up care when you need it. An audiologist’s services go beyond dispensing hearing aids; they encompass the full spectrum of a doctor-patient relationship that ensures your hearing will be in good hands for years to come.