4 Steps to a Successful Hearing Aid Evaluation

Undergoing a hearing aid evaluation can be the first step for dealing with any hearing problems that you may be experiencing. However, not everybody enjoys a hearing evaluation and they may even believe that hearing aids are unnecessary. 

Whether you are an audiologist or someone attending a hearing aid evaluation for the first time, it’s useful to understand what makes such an assessment successful. From the audiologist’s point of view, they want to provide all the information they can and explain precisely what it means to experience hearing loss and what wearing a hearing aid will entail. 

For the patient, it is the opportunity to ask questions, look for solutions and come to terms with the idea of wearing a hearing aid, being comfortable with such a result in the process. 

If you need to pick out four key steps to a successful hearing aid evaluation, here are the most prominent factors. 

The hearing test

A hearing aid evaluation cannot be successful without a hearing test. The audiologist will take this opportunity to run a few tests to discover the extent of your hearing loss. For those unfamiliar with hearing tests, this can be uncomfortable, so the onus is on the audiologist to make patients feel at ease. 

The patient should feel comfortable as soon as they arrive for the test, be welcomed into the office, and find themselves in a safe environment. However, their anxiety can build the closer they get to the appointment, so it’s worth talking them through everything you are doing and going to do so they understand that there is nothing to worry about. 

If needed, speak to the patient throughout the hearing test to keep their mind off everything if they appear nervous. Even so, most people undertaking a hearing aid test will be fine.

Offering hearing solutions

After you complete the hearing test, you can share the results with the patient. It could be that there is no evidence of hearing loss and, therefore, no need for a hearing aid. However, most people attend hearing aid evaluations because they experience some degree of hearing loss, so it is almost always likely that you will need to offer hearing solutions. 

With these solutions, you can help them understand the nature of their hearing loss. You can explain its severity and what it could mean for them if they choose to reject your advice. While most patients are understanding of their hearing loss, others may not be so open to the facts. To overcome this, you can explain the benefits of wearing a hearing aid, and even demonstrate what they can experience while wearing one. 

Providing recommendations

Once you have offered hearing solutions and provided context, you can start to recommend different hearing aid styles. The type of hearing aid will often depend on a combination of the patient’s preference and what is most beneficial to them. This gives you the chance to tailor a recommendation just for them. 

There are three primary types of hearing aids. These are in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC) and while they all provide excellent benefits and can improve the quality of life for the patient, not all types are ideal for every situation. By presenting these options, you get the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of each type of hearing aid, giving the patient ideas regarding features, quality and ease of use, which can help them make the right decision. 

Creating a treatment plan

When the patient has decided which hearing aid style is best for them, you can begin a treatment plan. In this step, you talk about arranging the hearing aid to be delivered and work out a suitable time for fitting. You will also need to discuss aftercare factors, as well as any expectations that both you and the patient have regarding the use of the hearing aid.

The treatment plan will also include information about getting used to the hearing aid and how to look after it. Audiologists should also ensure that they encourage regular checkups, especially at first, as the patient gets used to using the hearing aid. This also gives you the chance to make any changes to enhance the overall experience. 

Get in touch today

If you believe that you could benefit from a hearing aid evaluation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Audiology Associates today. Our team of experienced audiologists is on hand to answer all of your questions and provide all the information that you need. You can get in touch by calling us at 573-332-7000.