The average person with hearing loss isn’t quite an expert on hearing aids, and that’s understandable. There are so many hearing aid models out there, and no two are exactly alike, and you may not know the similarities and differences off the bat. How can you know which one is right for you? The answer is a hearing aid consultation. Here’s how to know when you need a consultation and what to expect at your appointment.
How will I know it’s time for a hearing aid consultation?
This question has two answers, one obvious and one more in-depth. The obvious one: You’ll know it’s time for a hearing aid consultation after a hearing evaluation turns up hearing loss. The more in-depth one: A hearing aid consultation will likely be the logical endpoint of deciding to seek professional help with your hearing troubles.
For example, let’s say you’ve noticed recently, that every time you’re in a crowded or loud environment, you can’t understand conversations. In that case, maybe you’ve decided to seek help from a hearing care professional. This professional will conduct a hearing evaluation and recommend a hearing aid consultation if your exam reveals hearing loss.
You may also seek out a hearing exam because a loved one or a colleague has had a frank conversation with you. It’s very common for people to not realize their hearing has changed, so it’s not surprising if someone in your orbit has pointed out that you’re struggling to hear them clearly.
Other reasons you might seek a hearing exam include:
- Regularly hearing sounds in a muffled, less discernible manner
- Challenges hearing people on the phone
- Constantly having to turn the TV all the way up
- Frequently saying “what?” or asking people to repeat themselves in conversation
- Tinnitus or other forms of ringing in your ears
- Pain when you hear certain sounds
- Fading ability to hear high-pitched sounds
All these symptoms may indicate hearing loss. The good news is that, if your hearing test reveals hearing loss, finding the right hearing aid is a pretty easy process.
The five simple steps of a hearing aid consultation
A hearing aid consultation involves the following five steps:
1. Establishing your background.
To start a hearing aid consultation, your hearing care professional will ask about your medical history, family history, lifestyle, and home and work environments. Don’t hold back – hearing professionals can’t fully do their job without all this information. Even the most seemingly irrelevant factor can shape your hearing health.
2. Discussing your needs and expectations.
Chances are you have needs and expectations beyond what your background can reveal. Your hearing professional should encourage you to state these needs upfront. Maybe you take a lot of calls for work and need hearing aid technology that connects your hearing aids directly to your phone. Or maybe you’re looking for a hearing aid you can adjust from your phone. Your provider won’t know unless you say so.
3. Reviewing your hearing exam.
A hearing exam should always precede a hearing aid consultation. During your consultation, you and your provider will discuss your exam results. You’ll talk about any sounds you might be struggling to hear and the type of hearing loss you’re experiencing. Your provider will explain anything else of importance that your hearing exam has revealed.
4. Recommending appropriate hearing aids.
Once you fully understand the ramifications of your hearing exam, your provider will recommend several hearing aid models that might best suit your needs. Your provider will make their recommendations based on your hearing loss severity, lifestyle, common environments, and budget. Whether they recommend hearing aids for one ear or both, you’ll get to see and handle every suggested model before making a final decision.
5. Ordering and programming your hearing aids.
Some hearing aid models require an impression of your ears. In such cases, your provider will take a mold of your ear during your hearing aid consultation. Either way, your provider will order your hearing aids from their manufacturer to end your appointment.
Once your devices arrive, your provider will then call you in for a hearing aid fitting. During this fitting, your provider will ensure your hearing aid rests on your ear snugly without discomfort. Your hearing professional will also program your device to meet your needs. And then, you can walk back out into the world and once again hear it all in full.
What makes a good hearing aid consultation
A good hearing aid consultation includes all the above – and, just as importantly, the attention of providers who hear your questions and concerns. A hearing aid consultation is only effective when your provider actually answers your questions and addresses your concerns. And a truly caring hearing provider wants you to get the best possible hearing aid technology for your specific hearing loss and communication needs.
By these standards, Audibel Manhattan is a great choice for your hearing aid consultation. Our hearing aid consultations move through all the above steps and introduce you to the most advanced hearing aid technology available. Depending on your needs and expectations, you’ll be recommended one of Audibel’s many highly advanced hearing aid models. Some of these models move beyond hearing to track your body and brain health, detect your falls, and more.
If you need hearing aids and want only the best in hearing care and technology, book an appointment now at Audibel Manhattan. A short subway ride or drive into the Upper East Side is all it takes to reconnect with the world and all its sounds.