For children who have hearing concerns, hearing aids can bring in amazing benefits and help them improve their overall lifestyle. Bringing your child to a hearing health professional can help measure the severity of the hearing loss and identify the proper hearing aid for their condition.
If you have a child in need of hearing aids, you have to bring them to a fitting first. Here’s what you need to know about hearing aid fittings.
What Is Hearing Aid Fitting?
A hearing aid fitting is basically the initial diagnostic process that you need to go through to determine if you are suffering from hearing loss.
The hearing health professional will measure your hearing level, which is known as the audiogram. They will also determine how severe your hearing loss is by providing you with a hearing aid.
The Steps of the Hearing Aid Fitting Process
There are several steps involved in the process of determining if a hearing aid is the right course of action for your hearing loss.
1. Taking a Hearing Test
The first step of the hearing aid fitting process is to have a hearing test. This test usually lasts for four to five hours with the last hour being used for adjusting the hearing aid.
The tests will determine your baseline hearing level. They will also assess the degree of hearing loss that the patient suffers from. This is generally done by providing the patient with hearing aids that will collect the baseline audiogram. The results will assess the patient’s hearing loss and the amount of amplification needed.
2. Choosing the Hearing Aid Type and Design
Next, you will discuss the hearing aid type and design with the hearing health professional. Some of the options you can choose from include:
- Behind-the-ear hearing aids – These are the usual type of hearing aids you see around you. They are very small in size and can be hidden behind the ear. They can be comfortable and can fit well if you use them properly.
- Open fit hearing aids – These are similar to behind-the-ear hearing aids, but they don’t protrude from the ear. This means that you won’t be able to hide them. They also tend to collect more dust and need more maintenance.
- In-the-ear hearing aids – These are the smallest of all hearing aids, so they are very discreet. However, they are also the most difficult to maintain. They can still be worn by most people, but they may not be suitable for people with larger ear canal openings.
3. Taking Ear Impressions
After the hearing test is over, the hearing health professional will ask you to take ear impressions. An ear impression is an impression of your ear’s internal structure which is done by using a tool to fill in the ear canal. The impressions are made on a material made of putty.
4. Fitting the Hearing Aid
The last step of the hearing aid fitting process is the fitting. The hearing health professional will use the ear impressions to make a custom ear mold or shell that will fit perfectly in your ear. This allows the sound to be directed to the ear properly.
After a few days, you can test the hearing aid to see if it is working correctly. The child will be asked to adjust the volume of the hearing aid and to try various environments to see how the hearing aid works in various circumstances.
Final Thoughts
Fitting is a very important part of the process of getting hearing aids. It will help you determine the type of hearing aid that you need and will make sure that you are comfortable with the hearing aid.
Before going to the hearing aid fitting, do some research and prepare a list of questions for the hearing health professional.
Are you looking for the best hearing aid in Massachusetts for your child? Bring them to Hear More Associates. We are the most trusted hearing specialists in Massachusetts and we will expertly assist your child from testing and fitting to follow up sessions. Message us today for a free hearing test.
