Hearing aid programming is a critical service provided by Toronto Hearing Consultants. Hearing aid programming is standard procedure when you purchase a digital hearing aid with us, and you can also bring us hearing aids that you have purchased elsewhere to have them reprogrammed to better fit your individual hearing needs.
In this article, we are going to discuss the hearing aid programming process, where programming falls in the process of having your hearing tested and purchasing hearing aids, and how digital hearing aids have evolved to better help you hear the world around you.
Getting Started: Your Hearing Test
Hearing tests, also known as audiometry, are thorough exams that test the location of hearing loss (the part of the ear that has been affected), the type of hearing loss (the frequencies that you struggle most to hear in day-to-day life), and the extent or severity of the loss (measuring your hearing threshold in terms of decibels). A battery of tests are conducted to identify the type and extent of your hearing loss, including:
- Otoscopy,
- Tympanometry,
- Air conduction thresholds,
- Bone conduction thresholds,
- And speech testing.
The results of these tests are plotted on an audiogram, which can be reviewed by an audiologist and examined in conjunction with your needs assessment to find you the right hearing aids.
You do not need to have your hearing tested at our Toronto hearing clinic in order to purchase your hearing aids from us. If you have already had your hearing tested somewhere else, we can also examine the results of your test and help you find the perfect hearing aids.
Hearing Aid Fitting
Getting your first hearing aids can be an extensive process. Not only must you have your hearing tested, but today, there are many different types of modern hearing aids and styles to choose from. Toronto Hearing Consultants helps you throughout the selection process. Unlike many other audiologists, we are not associated with any one hearing aid manufacturer. That gives us the freedom to offer the widest range of hearing aids possible and help you find the right match.
At Toronto Hearing Consultants, these are the five steps of the hearing aid fitting process:
- Hearing Aid Selection: We start with your physical and electroacoustic requirements to identify which hearing aids will suit your needs, and then consult with you on your cosmetic preferences, listening challenges, and desired outcomes to find the right devices. There are many different types of hearing aids and styles to choose from. You may want to experience hearing aid demos during the selection process to try out different styles and feel how they fit you. Keep in mind that some styles of hearing aid are also custom-fit to your ear canal.
- Hearing Aid Programming: We will explore the details of hearing aid programming in the section below, but this process involves digitally adjusting the sound produced by your hearing aid to meet your preferences.
- Verification: Once your hearing aids have been programmed, we verify that they are functioning correctly and test their volume at each pitch.
- Orientation and Counselling: This step is designed to make you feel comfortable and confident when you are using your hearing aids, and involves learning how to insert the devices, caring and cleaning for your hearing aids, and how to use additional accessories.
- Validation: Finally, we follow up two weeks later to confirm that your hearing aids are helping with your hearing challenges.
Our Hearing Aid Programming Services
Hearing aid programming begins once your hearing has been tested and you have selected your hearing aid. We digitally program hearing aids to match the pattern and degree of hearing loss that you experience.
Some digital hearing aids also come with features that allow you to adjust the volume and programming to better suit the environment and your specific hearing needs.
How to Program a Hearing Aid
Hearing aid programming allows an audiologist to fine-tune your device to fit your hearing, amplifying the frequencies that you struggle to hear so that your device produces them at the correct volume for you to comfortably understand conversation Audiologists program hearing aids the appropriate manufacturer software. Digitization has made basic fitting and fine-tuning easier and more precise.
What to Do If Your Hearing Aids Are No Longer Effective?
If your hearing aids are no longer as effective as they once were, there are several possibilities and solutions. The average lifespan of hearing aids is approximately 4 years. At this point, parts such as the microphone or speaker can start to break down. Hearing aids are very precise devices, and they are regularly exposed to wax, dirt, and moisture in your ear. Around the 4-5 year mark, you may need to have your hearing aids repaired or replaced. Hearing aid manufacturers will not repair hearing aids after 5 years as the technology is considered obsolete.
The other issue may be that your hearing needs have changed. Hearing loss can worsen over time. In some cases, reprogramming your hearing aid allows you to make adjustments to meet your current needs. However, you may also need to have your hearing tested again and update your hearing aids accordingly. Once you experience hearing loss, you should have your hearing tested annually or when you experience changes in your hearing.
There are several benefits to hearing aids that can help you adapt to hearing loss. Thanks to hearing aid programming, you can improve your ability to communicate in noisy environments and walk into social situations with more confidence. The adjustability of digital hearing aids restores your hearing more accurately.
Toronto Hearing Consultants will walk you through the process of getting a hearing aid from start to finish. We also offer a variety of services, including hearing aid programming, to everyone, whether or not you have purchased your hearing aids with us. Give us a call if you want to learn more about hearing aid programming.
