Are you currently experiencing hearing problems? Perhaps you’ve lost some of your ability to hear and you’re ready to seek treatment. If you’re still looking for a professional to test your hearing ability, consider seeing a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). A HIS is a hearing professional with expert knowledge in hearing aids.

If you’ve never seen a hearing instrument specialist before, then your first appointment may feel overwhelming. To help you get the most out of your visit, here are a few questions you should ask during the appointment.

How severe is my hearing loss?

When you arrive at your hearing instrument specialist’s office, they usually administer a basic hearing test. After you receive the results, it’s crucial you ask how severe your hearing loss is. Understanding if you have mild or severe hearing loss will help narrow down your hearing aid options and will make it easier to select the best style for your particular needs.

How do hearing aids work?

Make no mistake about it, the main reason you visit a HIS is to get a hearing aid. However, it makes sense to understand a little bit about the technology inside this hearing instrument. Ask your specialist to describe how a hearing aid works and what it does to improve your hearing problems. This gives you peace of mind while also ensuring you have realistic expectations for how well your hearing will improve.

What hearing aid features are best for me?

This is a great question to ask as it allows the hearing instrument specialist to talk about all the different hearing aid features. They’ll speak about various things that you can enjoy on different devices. What’s more, they’ll tell you which features are best for your type of hearing loss. In turn, this helps you narrow down your search for the perfect hearing aid, as you create a checklist of features that are essential for you.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Hearing aids are a large investment, so it’s important to understand what your budget is going into it and communicate that clearly with your hearing instrument specialist. Your HIS will work to find the best hearing solution for your lifestyle, hearing loss and budget needs.

A hearing instrument specialist aims to offer solutions for your lack of hearing. To ensure you get the most out of your time with them, remember to ask these four questions. It will result in a service that’s more tailored for you, and you’ll leave with the best treatment possible.