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Existing
Hearing Aid Users
If you already use a hearing aid, but need to be reassessed
or re-fitted, you will normally need to attend for two appointments. Your
audiologist will need to have detailed information about your hearing
levels and listening needs to make sure that you get the maximum benefit
from your hearing aid.
1. Reassessment/Re-fitting visit (at least 60 mins)
You can expect the audiologist to:
- Ask you if there are any changes or additions
to your medical history.
- Ask you some specific questions about how you use your
current hearing aid and how much it helps in certain situations.
- Carry out Otoscopy, to look for wax, blockages, or any
problems with your ear canal or ear drum which need to be taken into
account when fitting an aid.
- Insert the earmould into your ear, and trim the tube
to the correct length.
- Check that the earmould is comfortable and can be inserted/removed
easily. If it is too tight or uncomfortable in places, the audiologist
can modify it using various tools.
- Perform a ‘real ear measurement’ to check
that the new aid is working correctly. The audiologist will put a narrow
tube down your ear canal, which can tickle, but should not hurt. She
or he will then play some sounds through a loudspeaker, and measure
the sound in your ear both without and with your new hearing aid in
place. This makes sure that the hearing aid is amplifying sounds correctly
for your hearing loss and your ear.
- Ask you how things sound, and make any necessary adjustments
to the aid.
- Teach you how to do the following:
- Change the battery
- Operate the controls
- Insert and remove the aid
- Use loop systems where available. Your audiologist
will explain this to you, but more information is available. [Link
to RNID factsheet on loop systems].
- Take care of your hearing aid
- Give you advice on using your hearing aid and getting
used to it, including written information.
- Book your next appointment for 8-12 weeks.
2. Follow up at 8-12 weeks (at least 30 min)
The aim of this appointment is to find out how you are getting
on with your hearing aid, and to make any adjustments that may be needed.
To get the best from this appointment, it is important that you have tried
your hearing aid in as many situations as possible. It may help to take
along notes of any problem situations or any questions you may want to
ask.
You can expect the audiologist to:
- Ask you how things are going generally.
- Ask some specific questions about how much benefit you
are finding from the hearing aid in certain situations.
- Ask if you are having any problems with the following:
- insertion
- comfort
- sound quality
- adequacy of loudness
- loudness discomfort
- noise intrusiveness
- telephone use
- battery life
- cleaning
- Check use of loop system and any special features your
hearing aid may have.
- Make any adjustments to the hearing aid that may be
required.
- Tell you if they think another appointment is
needed
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