How Long Does A Hearing Aid Fitting Take?

If you are on the hunt for a hearing aid, there are a few things you have to consider. There are 2 types of hearing aids and a couple of different styles, and how they fit. A fitting for a hearing aid can take up to 30-45 minutes give and take, sometimes up to an hour so make sure you plan around that time.

With technology advancing every day, hearing aids are so much smaller now and less noticeable. During the fitting of hearing aids, audiologists will perform multiple tests to understand your hearing level. They do this so as to see if you are safe to receive the aid.

One of the hearing aid styles is the open fit style or the BTE (Behind the ear). The listening device will be located behind or on the top of the outer ear, with a tube, and transmit the sound down to the ear canal through a specially adapted earmold or a way that does not block the entire ear canal opening. With this kind of portable hearing assistant, you can leave that very day with it being fitted and customized. BTE styles are accessible in various tones to coordinate with your hair or complexion. An example of the BTE would be a hearing aid dome.

Another style is the ITE (In the ear) hearing aid. This hearing aid, however, is where your audiologist will take a mold of your ear to make sure you have the perfect fit and also get a custom fit. The molding process is where they fill the ear canal with wax to make a cast also known as an impression. This process does not hurt the patient at all. Once the mold is set, it is then mailed to the lab and then sent back. The turnaround time for this can take up to two weeks.

After the hearing aids have been fitted the next step is for the audiologist to program them to your liking or your hearing and sound levels. Once the hearing aids have been programmed, it takes about 12 weeks to get acquainted. There will be follow-up calls from the clinic to see how you have been adjusting to it and see if there needs to be an additional adjustment.

Whatever hearing aid style you choose, I am sure you will look awesome. Before walking out of the clinic make sure to ask any and every question and voice any concerns you may have.