A hearing instrument is something personal. It is adapted to your hearing impairment, the shape of your ear and in many cases to your listening preferences. Therefore, the process of obtaining a hearing instrument consists of several steps to ensure an optimum fit in all respects.
The following steps are involved in obtaining a hearing instrument:
Discovering the hearing impairment
For adults, the way to a hearing instrument fitting often begins with a feeling that one’s hearing is not as it should be. This feeling may originate from situations where one has to ask for sentences to be repeated or when other people complain that the television is too loud while we regard it as comfortable. (For more critical situations see "Hearing test").
A hearing loss in children may be discovered straight after birth or later on, for example, with a behavioral test or by observing language development. For more details see "Types of hearing tests for children".
If you suspect a hearing impairment contact a hearingcare professional as soon as possible.
1st session with the hearingcare professional: diagnosis, choice of hearing instrument
A hearingcare professional or an ENT-physician determines with the help of a hearing test whether a hearing loss is present. If not, you won’t need any further help. In case a hearing loss is present, the kind and degree of your hearing loss is determined individually for each ear and entered in an audiogram. The hearingcare professional presents you with the technological possibilities that would help in your case.
The hearing loss, the shape of your ear canals, your needs, taste and budget are all taken into account to make the right decision concerning your hearing instruments and their technology, be it an in-the-ear or a behind-the-ear-model, digital, digitally programmable, analog, with or without a remote control or FM-receiver etc.
The hearingcare professional will take an ear impression, an accurate replica of your ear canal, which is the basis for the ITE-shell (in case ITEs are used) or the BTE-earmold.
2nd session with the hearingcare professional: fitting of hearing instrument
The hearingcare professional has prepared your new hearing instruments. He/she will fit them into your ears and tune them to your specific hearing loss and your preferences. Additionally, he/she will inform you about the handling – how to insert and operate them and how to adjust the volume. You will also become familiar with their maintenance – how to change the batteries, clean and dry the instruments, etc.. Finally, he/she might present you with some hearing examples and give you more details about the way your hearing instruments react in different situations. Now, you can return home with your new devices.
First steps with your new instrument
In the next few days you will become familiar with your new hearing instruments as you wear them for a few hours each day. Probably the easiest way to get to know and appreciate your new hearing instruments is to wear them in familiar surroundings. Get to know their characteristics when you speak to somebody and while you watch television etc. Your own voice might sound strange to you, possibly louder. If the loudness of other voices is appropriate, you might simply have learned to speak up in order to be able to hear your own voice at all. Practice speaking with a softer voice.
Once you have become accustomed to the hearing instruments you will have an idea as to what could still be improved. You might want to have certain settings changed. Make a note of the situations which you think could be improved and visit your hearingcare professional who will fine-tune your hearing instruments accordingly.
3rd session with the hearingcare professional: Fine-tuning
Your hearingcare professional will fine-tune your instruments according to your experiences. He/she will also answer some of your questions and give you general advice. Your hearing instrument now should have reached the stage where it is comfortably worn and offers the best possible intelligibility.
Long-term use
Continue to use your hearing instruments on a daily basis for several hours. In this way you will learn to use them best and benefit from them the most. Your hearing will be “trained” by the newly audible sounds and remains active, preventing a deterioration of the links between inner ear and brain. You will also find out whether you would benefit from any complementary devices such as an FM system which would give you additional support in difficult situations with noise, reverberation or distance or make watching television and making phone-calls easier.
Whenever you have questions do not hesitate to contact your hearingcare professional who will be happy to assist you.
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