Your first hearing test appointment?
How to Get a Hearing Aid
At Dove Hearing Centres, we understand that hearing loss can significantly affect your quality of life, often leading to distress and discomfort. Our goal is to make sure that all of you, our valued customers, receive the highest quality of care and attention to help you to find the best solution to make managing your hearing impairment easier. With hearing centres in Hanley, Lichfield and Burton on Trent, we are conveniently placed to help clients of all ages across Staffordshire.
Below is a breakdown of what you can expect during your hearing journey:
Step 1: The Consultation
During the first stage, we will spend some time discussing the difficulties you are having with your hearing, the type of lifestyle that you lead, and we will take time to understand your listening needs, goals and expectations.
Step 2: The Hearing Test
We then examine your ear with an otoscope. At this point we are looking at the health of your ear, ear canal and ear drum, we are also looking for obvious obstructions such as wax or infection. If wax is found we can remove your wax quickly and safely with micro-suction wax removal, if infection is found we may have to refer you to your GP before proceeding with your hearing test.
Next we perform your hearing test using the latest technology to produce your Audiogram. The hearing test involves you wearing headphones and pressing a button in response to a series of pure tone beeping sounds, we perform two different pure tone tests to give us all of the information needed to advise you on the type, degree and nature of your hearing loss.
Step 3: Explaining your results and providing recommendations
We take the time to explain your hearing test results.
At this point we decide whether you simply need a check up in 12 months for a hearing retest or if we feel that you would benefit from using hearing aids, we will talk to you about the most appropriate option for you from the full range of hearing solutions available in our centre.
We will take the following into account:
• Your technological requirements
• Size and shape
• Hearing aid styles
• Comfort
• Price
Step 4: Choosing and fitting your Hearing Aid
You can expect your hearing aid to be fitted within 7-14 days after your test dependent on the style of hearing aids dispensed. At the fitting we will program your hearing aids to your exact requirements. Once complete, you can then take your new hearing aids home!
Step 5: Using your Hearing Aid
It is a good idea to get used to wearing your hearing aids in a familiar and comfortable situation, such as at home with the family. Once you are used to wearing your hearing aids you can wear them all the time apart from when sleeping or bathing.
You may notice several things when you start using your hearing aids:
• Speech, music, television and background noises will sound louder and clearer
• Consonants such as ‘s’, ‘t’ and ‘ch’ will be more defined
• Your own voice will also sound different, this is something that you will adapt to over time
Follow up appointments, fine tuning and after care
Following your fitting, you will be invited for a follow up appointment where we can discuss any necessary adjustments to the sound quality. It is a good idea to make a list of anything you notice or that you would like adjusting in advance. During this appointment we will discuss how you have been getting along over the last 2 weeks. We can then make fine tuning adjustments to your hearing aids to further personalise the sound for you. These adjustments can make all the difference in the long run and help you get the most from your hearing aids.
Once you have completed your follow up appointments we shall recall you regularly for a check-up, this is important to monitor how you are getting on and make any small adjustments that your hearing aid may need.
Book an appointment
For more information or to speak to one our hearing professionals, contact your local Hearing Centre today.