subject: How To Test Your Hearing Aid [print this page] Now that you have picked out a hearing aid, there are a few things you can do to help you determine whether or not your new listening device is right for you. Before you make any purchases at the audiology center, you want to make sure that anything you purchase is completely suited for your condition.
Talk with your audiologist and find out if there is a trial period that you can take advantage of. If so, you will be able to use the device for a short time to help you decide whether or not it is appropriate for your lifestyle. Keep in mind that even though you are initially choosing a device based off of your results at the audiology center, it can take several weeks for you to become fully adjusted to your hearing aid. Only after that can you truly assess how well it works for you.
During this trial period, you want to make sure that you wear your device every day for as long as possible. Remember, you can't make a good assessment unless you wear your hearing aid on a regular basis. Wait a week or two, and then make an appointment to see the audiologist again. During that time pay careful attention to how your device works for you. Try to do many different activities. Watch television, go to a party, use a phone, and try out many different sound environments.
If you experience any discomfort, make sure you make a note of it and what was going on when that discomfort happened. Keep your notes organized, as you will need to take them to your follow up appointment. At your initial visit, your device was adjusted to accommodate you while you were at the clinic. Chances are, now that you have had the opportunity to use it while doing some of your daily activities, you may have noticed that it needs some further fine-tuning.
Take your notes with you to your next appointment with your audiologist. By this time you may have come up some questions or concerns about your hearing aid. Use this opportunity to present your ear doctor with your questions and thoughts concerning your new device. Inform them about any problems you may have had as well. If there were any times where you felt that your hearing aid was not picking up sound properly, it doesn't matter if it was a loud or quiet sound. Don't hesitate to let your audiologist know. If your audiologist is able to make adjustments to your device to correct the issues you have, they will let you know. Repeat this process until you are close to the end of your trial period. If by the end of your trial period you don't feel completely confident in your listening device's capabilities, you may need to select a different model.
