What to Ask Your HIS About Hearing Tests

If you’ve recently scheduled a hearing test with your hearing instrument specialist or are considering it, then you may be interested in preparing for your consultation. One of the best ways to learn more about hearing tests and hearing aids is to ask your hearing instrument specialist a series of questions.

You may already have some concerns that you want to discuss with your specialist, but here are a couple more questions that you can ask to help you gain a better understanding of the situation.

The severity of hearing loss

Hearing instrument specialists will test your hearing using a variety of different evaluations. This gives them an accurate look at the severity of your hearing loss and whether or not it’s caused by aging. Understanding what degree of hearing loss you have will give you more transparency. This can help you make decisions in the future regarding if you want to use hearing aids or not.

If hearing aids can help you

A hearing instrument specialist will tell you if hearing aids will be able to help you hear better. If your hearing loss is very mild, then there’s a chance that your hearing instrument specialist won’t recommend hearing aids just yet and may suggest protection to prevent your hearing from worsening.

However, if you need hearing aids, your specialist will tell you if you need one or a pair of hearing aids, depending on your hearing test results.

The types of hearing aids available

A hearing instrument specialist has access to many different kinds of hearing aids. Since each patient experiences different kinds of hearing loss and may have different requirements for hearing aids, it’s a good idea to speak to your specialist about your lifestyle so they can help you choose an appropriate option.

For example, some people may prefer a subtle hearing aid that is hidden away, and others may prefer a larger hearing aid with more features such as wireless connectivity.

How to adapt to hearing aids

There is a small adjustment period when you first get your hearing aids. If your hearing instrument specialist has already suggested you use hearing aids, then it can help to ask them for a few tips to help you adjust to them quickly. Sounds may be different from what you remember, and it can feel a little uncomfortable to wear your hearing aids at first.

How to maintain your hearing aids

Hearing aids will require a bit of maintenance, such as regular cleaning and care. Your hearing instrument specialist will offer you some advice on how to take care of your hearing aids and will have suggestions for cleaning products, storage methods and also how to use the different features that it comes with.