Hearing Aid Fitting & Counseling



When your audiologist recommends hearing aids, selection is only the beginning of the process. Equally important is the fitting, which involves programming your hearing aids and making adjustments to provide the correct levels of amplification for your particular hearing loss. Counseling is a necessary step to ensure you have realistic expectations, and is crucial for long-term success.


What is Hearing Aid Counseling?


Before you ever put on hearing aids, you’ll receive counseling to prepare you for this change in your lifestyle. While hearing aids will undoubtedly improve your communication abilities, it is important to understand they are not a cure for hearing loss, and do have certain limitations. Learning what to expect beforehand will help you achieve the maximum benefit from your devices.



The Importance of Real Ear Measurments (REM)


REMs are important because they measure how a hearing aid’s intensity (volume) and frequency (pitch) are affected by your ear. When hearing aid manufacturers create a hearing aid and decide how to program it, they do so based on one sized and shaped ear. Real-ear measurements allows us to apply the hearing aid fitting prescription to your specific ear. The result is hearing aid settings that are best suited for the size and shape of your ear and for your specific hearing loss. REM have been proven by the audiology research community as the gold standard for hearing aid fitting verification. 


What Kind of Follow-Up Care Can I Expect?


A follow-up visit will be scheduled 1-2 weeks after your initial fitting. During this appointment, your audiologist will fine-tune and adjust your hearing aids as needed and answer any questions you may have. It may take a while to adjust your hearing aids to their maximum effectiveness, so additional fitting appointments may be needed.



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How Are Hearing Aids Fitted?


Your audiologist at Big Sky Audiology will check the physical fit to make sure they are comfortable. They will then be programmed and adjusted based on your hearing loss utilizing Real Ear Measurements (REM) and fine-tuned based on your lifestyle needs. 

Your audiologist will then discuss care and maintenance of your hearing aids. You will learn how to use them correctly and make adjustments for different hearing environments, insert and remove them, change the batteries and clean and care for them properly. You will also learn tips and strategies for better communication.


Contact Big Sky Audiology Clinic at (406) 656-2003 for more information or to Schedule an Appointment


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