Step 2: Fitting and verification
When you come in to have the hearing aids fitted, we will programme them using the results of your hearing test.
First of all we check that your hearing aids fit comfortably in your ear.
Then we programme the hearing aids for your hearing loss using the results of your hearing test and the manufacturers fitting software.
The next step is called ‘verification’ where we check to make sure the hearing aids are working properly in your ears and are programmed correctly.
Research shows this is an essential step. It takes the guess work out of fitting hearing aids and is much more effective than asking you ‘Now, how does that sound?’
The verification test
To perform verification we use a test called ‘ Real Ear Measurements’ and we use the most state of the art equipment available to do this.
Tiny probe microphones are placed in your ears, so that we can measure the exact levels of sound arriving at your eardrum. The output from the microphone is displayed on a screen for you to see.
We then put in your hearing aids and play a series of calibrated signals such as speech and music. We can then see the exact level of sound being produced by the hearing aids in your ears.
We compare this level to a pre-determined prescription target and adjust the hearing aids to ensure that they are adequately meeting the target, which has been calculated from your hearing test results.
We then make sure that you are totally happy and
comfortable with the sound of the hearing aids. We will also
show you how to handle your hearing aids and make sure that
you are totally comfortable with this.
Once your hearing aids are properly fitted and verified,
you'll be able to take them home and start the process of
getting used to your hearing aids