Hearing Aid Fitting at Home – Your Expert Guide to At-Home Care
We understand that thinking about hearing aids can feel like a big step. Perhaps the idea of travelling to a clinic feels daunting, or you’d simply prefer the comfort and privacy of your own home. You’re not alone.
Most people suffering from hearing loss across the UK are now choosing mobile hearing aid fittings – a convenient, discreet, and thoroughly professional service that brings the clinic to your door.
This guide is designed to walk you and your family through the entire process, setting your mind at ease from the first click to your first conversation with newfound clarity.
Why Choose a Hearing Aid Fitting at Home? Comfort and Convenience
For many seniors and their families, getting to a clinic for a hearing aid fitting appointment can be the biggest hurdle. A home fitting removes that barrier entirely.
- No Travel Necessary: Forget about traffic, parking, or navigating public transport. Our audiologist comes to you at a time that suits your schedule.
- Comfort in Familiar Surroundings: The process is conducted in the place where you feel most relaxed and confident. This is especially helpful if you feel anxious about new experiences.
- Test in Your World: We can adjust your hearing aids to the specific sounds of your home environment – the hum of your fridge, the volume of your TV, or the way sound carries in your living room. This leads to a more accurate and comfortable fit.
- Family Involvement Made Easy: It’s simple for your partner, children, or carer to be there with you. They can learn how to help with maintenance, ask questions, and share in the excitement of your journey to better hearing.
Before Your Visit: How to Get Ready for Your Audiologist
Preparing for your home appointment is wonderfully simple. There’s no need to deep-clean or rearrange your house!
- Choose a Quiet Space: Just pick a quiet, well-lit room with a table and two chairs – your living room or kitchen is perfect.
- Gather Your Thoughts: Have a think about situations (different environments) where you struggle to hear. Is it following conversations with grandchildren? Hearing the television? Chatting in a café? Jot these down if it helps.
- Have Your Details Ready: If you have previous hearing test results, please have them handy. It’s also helpful to know your Wi-Fi password if you’re interested in hearing aids that stream directly from your TV or smartphone.
Understanding Your Choices: NHS vs. Private Home Fittings
It’s important to know your options. While the NHS provides invaluable hearing care, mobile hearing aid fittings are typically a private service.
The NHS Pathway
The NHS will provide hearing aids after an assessment, but the fitting appointments are almost always at a hospital or community clinic.
Private Home Hearing Aid Fitting Service
This is where you choose a private, HCPC-registered audiologist who comes to your home. You benefit from:
- The Latest Technology: Access to hearing aids with advanced sound quality and features like Bluetooth streaming directly to your phone or TV.
- Longer, More Personal Appointments: We never rush. Your appointment is all about you.
- A Robust Trial Period: Reputable private providers like Sound Hearing offer a full money-back guarantee (60 days) to ensure you are completely happy that your hearing aids are working properly.
What to Expect During Your At-Home Hearing Aid Fitting
Wondering what actually happens? Here’s a clear breakdown of your hearing aid fitting appointment.
- Step 1: A Friendly Welcome. Our audiologist will arrive with a portable case containing all the professional equipment found in a clinic. They’ll take a moment to chat and put you at ease.
- Step 2: A Comfortable Chat. We’ll review your hearing needs and goals right there in your living room, ensuring we fully understand your lifestyle.
- Step 3: A Gentle Examination. Using a small video camera (a video otoscope), we can examine your ears on a laptop screen to ensure everything is healthy. This is entirely painless.
- Step 4: In-Situ Hearing Test – New Hearing Aids lets us retest your hearing loss during programming. With the hearing aids in position in your ear canal, we can see if your hearing thresholds match the hearing test conducted with the headphones. Results may vary slightly due to the unique way sound travels through your ear canal.
- Step 5: Your Personal Tutorial. We’ll patiently show you – and your family – how to insert, remove, clean, and charge your new aids. We’ll also connect them to your own TV and phone right there and then.
- Step 6: Your Questions Answered. This is your time. We’ll answer any concerns you have face-to-face and discuss warranty, aftercare, and book any further appointments necessary, which can also be at home.
Getting Used to Wearing Hearing Aids: Patience is Key
When you first put your new hearing aids in, the world might seem surprisingly loud! This is completely normal. Your brain has been missing these everyday sounds for a while and needs time to readjust.
- Start Slowly: Begin by wearing them for just a few hours a day in quiet environments, gradually building up the wearing time.
- Practice at Home: Have a conversation with your partner, listen to the radio, or notice the gentle sounds you might have been missing.
- Be Patient: It can take 2 to 12 weeks for your brain to fully adapt. The more you wear them, the easier it becomes.
Ongoing Support Without Leaving Home
Your relationship with us doesn’t end after the fitting.
- Follow-up Fine-Tuning: We will schedule a follow-up appointment to make any small adjustments to amplification levels you need. This appointment is included in your care and can be done at home.
- Repairs and Servicing: If you have an issue, we can often arrange a postal repair service or have a loaner aid sent to you.
- Remote Care: Some modern hearing aids can even be adjusted remotely via a smartphone app for minor tweaks.
Experience the Difference of Home Care
Choosing a hearing aid fitting at home is about prioritising your comfort, convenience, and confidence. It’s professional hearing care designed around your life.
Ready to take the next step from the comfort of your favourite chair?
Prefer to talk? Please speak to our friendly team in London.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does a home fitting appointment take?
Please allow for about 60 to 90 minutes. We never want you to feel rushed.
Does it take multiple appointments to get a hearing aid fitting right?
The introduction to your new devices happens at your first fitting appointment. For many, this is all they need. However, we often schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks later to perform fine-tuning. This is completely normal, as your brain needs time to adjust. We correct the settings based on your preferences and feedback, ensuring your comfort. There’s no extra cost for these essential follow-ups.
What if I need a mould taken for my ear?
This can easily be done during your home appointment. It’s a painless process using a soft putty that sets in minutes.
Do you serve my area in London?
We serve all London postcodes within the M25 and the surrounding Home Counties. You can always call us to confirm.
Will loud sounds be uncomfortable or hurt my ears?
This is a very common concern. Modern devices are cleverly programmed to perform in a way that makes speech clear while managing loud sounds comfortably. During your fitting, we will program them to ensure sounds are correct and not overwhelming. If you ever feel uncomfortable, it’s a simple adjustment we can make – please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Are home fittings as accurate as clinic ones?
Yes, absolutely. We use the same professional, calibrated portable equipment, including Real Ear Measurement, which is the clinical gold standard.
What is the typical cost, and are there payment plans?
The cost of private hearing aids varies based on the technology level you choose. The great news is that you don’t have to pay for everything upfront. We offer two levels of service plans to make paying for your treatment easier. Remember, this cost includes all your appointments, the devices themselves, and ongoing aftercare. We also offer free, no-obligation consultations to discuss everything before you commit.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
As a private mobile service, we don’t have the long waiting lists often associated with other pathways. We typically can schedule your introduction appointment and fitting within a few days, sometimes even sooner. There’s no need to wait for months to improve your hearing.
How do I maintain my devices and how long do batteries last?
Proper care is simple! We’ll show you how to clean your devices and maintain them daily. For batteries, lifespan depends on the size of the aid and how much you stream audio. As a general example, smaller batteries might last 3-5 days, while larger ones can last up to two weeks. We’ll provide you with a full program for maintenance during your appointment.
Can you program my aids to work best for my specific preferences, like listening to a specific speaker?
Absolutely. This is the biggest benefit of a professional fitting. We don’t use a one-size-fits-all program. We program your aids based on your hearing test and, crucially, your preferences. For example, if you really struggle to hear your partner (speaker) in a noisy room, we can create a special setting to help with that. Your treatment is fully personalised.
What if the tube or dome feels uncomfortable in my ear?
Your comfort is paramount. The soft tube and dome should feel secure but not tight. If anything feels uncomfortable, it’s often a simple fix. We can quickly adjust the tube’s length or try a different size or style of dome during your appointment to get the fit correct. Please always contact us so we can make it right.