Do you think you are experiencing hearing loss? If so, you need to schedule an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) as they can help you understand the degree of hearing loss you are experiencing. A hearing instrument specialist can identify potential issues with your hearing and recommend appropriate interventions like hearing aids. Your appointment with a hearing instrument specialist serves as a pivotal moment in taking proactive measures to enhance your hearing health.

With the help of an HIS and hearing aids you won’t have to ask anyone to repeat what they’re saying or miss out on conversations. Hearing aids are available to assist you and there are qualified professionals who can help with the right one. Here’s what to expect when you go in for an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist.

The Questionnaire

Before they can do anything to help you, your hearing instrument specialist is going to have to dig deep to find out more about you. This is going to come in the form of a medical questionnaire. This means that they’re going to ask you some questions about your health, your family history and any symptoms that you may currently be experiencing. Be sure to answer all these questions truthfully. This information is vital to ensure that you get fitted with the right instrument.

Evaluation and Tests

After your hearing instrument specialist has finished learning about you medically, they will want to preform evaluations and tests. This will help them to zero in on the problem so they can give you a highly customized instrument to help with your hearing loss. Prepare a list of questions to ask, as this can help you to understand the severity of your hearing loss and which hearing aid options will be right for you. Once your hearing instrument specialist has completed the tests, they will then explain what your results mean. They will tell you which degree of hearing loss you have whether its mild or profound and discuss the different styles that would help with your unique auditory profile.

Discuss Options

Once all the test results are in, the options available to you will be discussed. The different options your hearing instrument specialist will discuss are behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), completely-in-canal (CIC) and invisible-in-canal (IIC). They are there to give you a custom fit and to explain which options are right for you based on your test results. With the many different styles available your hearing instrument specialist will talk to you about which will best suit your needs, if you have profound hearing loss then a BTE hearing aid might be the best option for you.

A hearing instrument specialist will aid in choosing the right device to help you cope with your hearing loss. This is such an important decision because it can directly affect the quality of your life. If you have any questions about what to expect from a hearing appointment contact a hearing instrument specialist as they will be able to explain the process to make you feel more at ease.