Services

Selection & Fitting

Longmont, Colorado

Overcoming and living with hearing loss takes more than just getting a powerful hearing aid. Proper hearing aid fitting, device programming, and clinician support also play their own respective roles towards a successful hearing journey.

What to Expect

Before fitting the hearing aids, we will conduct a thorough hearing test to determine the softest sound you can hear at different pitches.

Various types of hearing aids, levels of technology, patient’s lifestyle and budget will all be discussed at your hearing aid evaluation.

Audiologists at Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center will go through different features available in hearing aids and we will make recommendations based on hearing tests and evaluation of your communication needs.

Getting a Good Fit: The Importance of Hearing Aid Fittings

Hearing aid fittings are not just about selecting the correct device for your hearing needs. Proper fitting and programming is also important to ensure that you are getting the accurate amount of amplification to maximize hearing aid benefit. Real-Ear verification measurements play an important role in hearing aid fitting. Real-Ear Verification measures the sound pressure level in a patient’s ear canal and takes into account an individual’s unique acoustics to fine-tune devices for that patient’s specific hearing loss. It’s worth noting that not all hearing healthcare professionals practice real ear measurement. Unnecessary noise or feedback picked up by the hearing aids (whistling, squealing, etc.) will also be adjusted as necessary.

How is real ear measurement performed?

Real ear measurements are performed by inserting a thin tube into the ear canal. The tube is connected to a microphone that will measure the volume of sound near the eardrum while there is no hearing device inside. After that, we will insert the hearing aid in the ear while ensuring that the probe tube microphone, already in the ear canal, is not moved. Once the hearing aid is turned on, we will then measure how loud the sound is based on the output of the hearing aid inside the ear.

During this stage of hearing aid fitting, playing different volumes of sound – from soft to very loud- is critical in order for us to ensure that even the softest sounds are heard and incredibly loud sounds are compressed to a comfortable, audible level.

Why is real ear measurement important?

Real ear measurement plays an important role in a successful hearing aid fitting. Without proper verification and real ear measurement, there’s no way to verify if the hearing aids are programmed properly or if the wearer is enjoying the maximum benefits of the device.

By using real ear measures, audiologists can guarantee that the patient is getting the appropriate amount of amplification in accordance with his or her hearing needs. Audiologists at Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center are well-trained and highly-experienced when it comes to hearing aid fitting using real ear measurements.

Once the hearing aids are programmed, we will discuss proper care and maintenance of hearing aids. Inserting the hearing aids and changing/charging the batteries will also be demonstrated in the clinic.

Hearing Aids and Audiologists Longmont, Colorado

Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center works with some of the best names in the business, ensuring you receive only the best in audiology care, like: Starkey, Oticon, Phonak, Signia/Siemens, ReSound, Unitron, and Widex. Our clinic uses equipment with cutting-edge technology and our audiologists practice real ear measurement to ensure that you are getting the best hearing healthcare in Longmont, Colorado.