If you’re experiencing hearing loss, then you may have been told to visit a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). However, while it’s important to have a few choices in mind, finding the right one to fit your needs might not always be easy. If you don’t know where to start or which hearing instrument specialist to go with, there are some key qualities that you should be looking out for. Let’s take a look at those now.

Great Communication Skills

You’re putting your hearing health into the hands of someone new, so it’s important that your hearing instrument specialist has great communication skills. They should be able to communicate the procedure, outcome and treatment in a way that you’ll understand and listening to what you want from the experience.

Thorough Service

Arguably the most important quality in a hearing instrument specialist should be giving you a thorough service. This will include talking with you about your lifestyle, asking if you have any hobbies or activities that may impact your hearing aid choice and also making sure that your hearing aids are comfortable. They’ll also talk with you about how to care for your hearing aids and answer any questions you may have about your treatment. If there’s one quality you want from a hearing instrument specialist, it should be great service.

Up to Date Product Knowledge

There are so many advancements in hearing aids and assistive listening devices in this day and age, so you’ll want your hearing instrument specialist to have a deep knowledge of all of them. If you like the idea of having Bluetooth hearing aids, they should be able to show you your options and be able to confidently speak about the different things your hearing aid can do.

After Care

Another important quality to look for in a trustworthy hearing instrument specialist is what after care they provide. You should expect to be invited for a follow up appointment shortly after your hearing aid has been fitted to make sure that it is working properly and make adjustments if needed. They also should offer cleaning and repairs to make sure that your hearing aid is working to its full capacity.

Experience

Ideally you’ll want to look for a hearing instrument specialist that has plenty of years under their belt. This is because they will have seen everything there is to see and learned on the job. This will help them give you better care and also helps give you that peace of mind that you’ve chosen the right person to treat your hearing loss.

Has Empathy

Finally, another key quality to look for when choosing a trustworthy hearing instrument specialist is someone who has amazing people skills. Having your hearing checked for hearing loss is a new and unknown experience, and you want them to understand and empathize with how you’re feeling. Look for someone that can offer you that while also knowing when to speak and when to listen to you. Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable in their office and under their care.