Hearing aid fitting and follow up appointments

Question 1

What are the four types of adult rehabilitation appointments?

Answer 1

1. Direct referral: first-ever assessment
2. Reassessment: assessment existing user
3. Fitting: issuing hearing instrument
4. Follow up: measuring benefit and use

Question 2

What are the main things that happen in a direct referral appointment?

Answer 2

1. History: onset and progression of symptoms, difficult listening situations, lifestyle and occupation, expectations and management
2. Assessment: questionnaires, otoscopy, PTA
3. Decision making: use results to identify hearing goals and management options, discuss advantages and disadvantages of options

Question 3

What are the main things that happen during a fitting appointment?

Answer 3

1. Selection and programming: selection of appropriate hearing instrument and settings, programming, checking mould fit
2. Verification and fine tuning: REMs, test box or RECD, fine tuning, activation of additional programmes and controls
3. Patient instruction: practice insertion, explanation of controls, maintenance, follow up, and how to access repairs and servicing

Question 4

What are the main things that happen in a follow up appointment?

Answer 4

1. History: hearing aid use and benefit, remaining difficulties and any problems with operating and maintenance of the hearing aids
2. Assessment: benefit questionnaires, REMs/ test box/ RECD
3. Decision making: identify remaining hearing goals, fine tuning, changing programmes and settings, additional management options and further intervention

Question 5

What are the main things that happen at a reassessment appointment?

Answer 5

1. History: difficult listening situations, history of hearing aid use and likes/ dislikes about current hearing aids, lifestyle and occupation, expectations and management
2. Assessment: questionnaires, otoscopy, PTA, explain test results and relate to symptoms
3. Decision making: identify hearing goals and management options, advantages and disadvantages of options, reprogramming or replacement of hearing aids

Question 6

After fitting/ adjusting hearing aids, what subjective checks should be performed?

Answer 6

-Quality of your voice
-Quality of their voice
-Stand behind the hearing wearer and ask them unpredictable questions in a moderate and then quiet tone
-Clap hands loudly next to the hearing aid to ensure loud sounds are not uncomfortably loud

Question 7

What features of the new hearing aid should be explained to the hearing aid wearer?

Answer 7

-The hearing aid controls
-How to obtain, insert, remove and dispose of batteries
-Indicate the expected battery life of the hearing aid
-How to maintain and clean the hearing aid, earpiece and wax guards, how often to replace tubing and obtain tubing replacements
-The acclimatisation process and how to wear the hearing aids in order to acclimatise to them
-How to use the hearing aids with the telephone and demonstrate