How Are Hearing Aids Programmed?

When you have been prescribed a hearing aid from your audiologist, you have several choices you must make. There are lots of styles of hearing devices, for example, such as in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. You will need to determine the features you wish to take advantage of as well, such as an in-app remote control or Bluetooth compatibility.

Irrespective of the hearing device you choose, a hearing health professional will need to program your hearing device for you. After all, we are all individuals, and we all have very specific requirements when it comes to our hearing aids. You must ensure that your hearing device is programmed to suit you and your hearing requirements.

Understanding hearing aid programming and why it is needed

Every hearing device needs to be programmed differently, as your hearing function is individual to you. As there are various severities of hearing loss and different types of hearing problems, no two individuals are ever going to need the same hearing aid programming.

To make certain that you receive optimal use and benefits from your hearing device, your hearing aid professional will utilize a number of specialist tools so that your devices are programmed properly. Through connecting your hearing device to an external computer and simulating a variety of noises and sounds, the hearing health professional is going to be able to make changes to the internal programming of the device to deliver the best results. 

The hearing devices of today do not usually have one program. As you probably already know, hearing loss is something that can change depending on the environment that you are in. Because of this, there are several programs that are incorporated into the hearing devices of today. For instance, when you are in a busy place, you may need extra focus or amplification, therefore, numerous programs may be required to reflect this.

When hearing devices are being programmed, your hearing health professional is going to utilize specialist software to make certain that all programs are perfectly suited to your individual requirements. Furthermore, professional hearing aid programming will make sure of maximum comfort when a hearing device is being worn.

A complex range of algorithms can be utilized, which will deliver the best results through the use of real-ear probe microphones, visible speech mapping (VSM) and real-ear measurements.

Is it complicated to program a hearing device?

A lot of individuals can find themselves tempted to alter their own hearing device, yet it is never a wise idea to program your hearing aid yourself. In a lot of instances, when people do this, they end up inadvertently changing the program settings to something that is not anywhere near to being suitable for their natural hearing function.

Because of this, the hearing devices are not going to improve the auditory experience they have at all. They may even result in your hearing function reducing when you are wearing them, which is not a good thing.

When you program hearing devices yourself, there is always the risk that you are going to be causing physical damage to your hearing aid. As contemporary hearing devices tend to be very small, they demand the use of special tools for physical adjustments to be made. If you attempt to recreate this type of programming at your own home, it can result in damage to the device that simply cannot be rectified. Therefore, you can end up costing yourself a lot more money in the long run because you will need to purchase a new device. 

In-depth knowledge of the science behind hearing loss and extensive training is needed for a hearing device to be programmed. As an audiologist undertakes many years of practical training and specialist education, they will be well-equipped to program any type of hearing device. 

It may seem that it is an easy and quick solution to simply program your hearing device yourself, but this is not the case. It usually results in a few other problems. What may seem like an easy solution in terms of saving a bit of money, it is only going to end up costing you more in the long run, so it is not worth the risk.

Learn more about Hear Again America and how to program your hearing device by calling today at 877-905-9493. We can answer any questions you have, or we can get you booked in for an appointment so that your device is programmed properly.