Behind the scenes: hearing aid fitting

Hearing aids are remarkable pieces of technology—offering life-changing benefits to individuals and their families. Modern devices are so lightweight and comfortable that most of my patients report they don’t even feel like they’re wearing them.

But all of these benefits hinge on one crucial element: a good fitting experience.

The fitting appointment is often a person’s first real step into the world of better hearing and improved engagement with life. I like to break down the fitting process into key stages that, in my experience, give patients the best chance of not only accepting their hearing aids—but enjoying them too.

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1. Insertion

This might be the most important step. If the hearing aids don’t fit properly, they simply won’t function properly. It’s like wearing a pair of shoes: it doesn’t matter how high-quality or expensive they are—if they don’t fit, it won’t be a good experience.

For many people, this part can be tricky. Dexterity issues and lack of experience are common challenges, especially if it’s your first time. That’s why it’s so important to take your time, learn the right technique, and practice inserting them yourself.

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2. Verification

Once the hearing aids are in, I perform a verification step. This is usually done using Real Ear Measurement (REM). In certain situations—when REM isn’t possible—I use in-situ audiometry instead.

This step is essential for ensuring optimal speech understanding and comfort in real-world, noisy environments. In short, verification confirms that your hearing aids are doing what they’re supposed to do, based on your unique prescription.

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3. Sound Quality

Now it’s time to turn the microphones on and let you experience the benefits in action. The first thing you will notice is your own voice—it might sound louder or unfamiliar. This is completely normal and usually settles down within a few hours or days.

Why does this happen? First, your mouth is very close to the hearing aids. Second, your brain simply isn’t used to hearing your voice amplified—so it takes some time to adapt.

We’ll spend the next few minutes fine-tuning the sound and making small adjustments for clarity and comfort. The exact strategy we use from this point forward depends entirely on your individual needs.

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4. Counselling

Before you leave, I’ll walk you through what to expect during the adjustment period. The first three days are often the most difficult—but your brain will adapt. Remember, in many cases, hearing loss develops gradually over decades. Hearing aids give back that sound in seconds. It takes time to get used to it.

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5. Maintenance

Finally, we’ll cover daily use, cleaning, and general care. Like any piece of technology, hearing aids need regular maintenance. We’ll also discuss your ongoing rehabilitation—because fitting the devices is just the beginning of the journey.

Different audiologists will have slightly different approaches, but in my opinion, the most important factor in any successful fitting is trust. You need to feel comfortable enough to be honest about your experience—what's working and what’s not. We can’t help if we don’t know there’s a problem.

If you found this post helpful or interesting, feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.

I hope this gives you a better idea of what to expect during your first experience with hearing aids.

Thanks for reading.

Modern hearing aids in hearing clinic