Time to read: 4 minutes
Making the decision to address your hearing loss is an important one.
It is the reason why we at Value Hearing have appointments that take between 90 minutes and two hours.
Our appointments include:
- A check of your ears (including a view through a video otoscope, so you can see your own ears on the screen)
- A comprehensive hearing test including speech-in-noise testing
- A hearing aid discussion (how hearing aids work, which ones are right for you based on your hearing test scores and lifestyle)
- Hearing aid fitting
- Real Ear Measurements, and
- Counselling on how to use and care for hearing aids
- Information on your hearing aid features
To give yourself the best opportunity for success, we recommend a few things to do before coming into your appointment.
Knowing your ‘why’
It is important that you know your reasons for wanting hearing aids that goes beyond simply ‘wanting to hear better’.
We believe you should have a specific goal in mind, such as ‘I want to hear better because I occasionally look after my grandchildren and I want to be able to hear them and keep them safe’ or perhaps your reason is ‘I want to enjoy socialising with friends more often and over time it has been difficult to keep up with conversations’.
Having that clear objective in mind, gives you something to work towards.
Setting aside the time
As mentioned earlier, our appointments are between 90 minutes to two hours. We don’t want to rush you. We aim to answer your questions, ensure your hearing aids are feeling, and sounding, comfortable, as well as assist you in experiencing the world with your best possible hearing.
Bring questions
There is a lot of information to take in during an appointment, especially if you haven’t been hearing at your best. We encourage you to write down a list of questions and bring them with your to the appointment to discuss with your clinician.
They will be able to answer your questions and well as direct you towards resources you can read and watch at your leisure. Such as our YouTube channel
Bring your phone (and passwords)
Today’s hearing aids are powerful mini-computers with features to optimise your very best hearing in just about any environment. They also have a degree of customisation and other features to access via your mobile phone.
Hearing aid manufacturers have apps designed to work with your hearing aid and which you control via your phone using Bluetooth pairing.
Depending on your phone and the hearing aid recommended, you might also have the additional features of being able to stream music, phone calls and TV programs direct to your hearing aids.
Once again, that can be controlled through your Smartphone.
Having your phone handy means your clinician can set up and run through the hearing aid features and controls on the phone you use every day.
Read more:
- Pairing issues in Bluetooth Hearing Aids
- Switching between devices in Bluetooth Hearing Aids
- Mobile Phones and Hearing Aids
- Introducing Bluetooth Hearing Aids
- Bluetooth: wires you have when you haven't got wires
Get ready to practice hearing
The next thing to bring is a willingness to practice hearing. Some clients can feel initially overwhelmed by all the new sound their brain is hearing.
Your clinician will make sure that the sound levels you’re receiving are comfortable. They will walk you through how to practice hearing with information on how to train your brain to effectively process sound again.
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