Hearing Aid Evaluation and Fitting
Once a hearing loss is identified, a hearing aid may be prescribed and fitted. The ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic is a full dispensing center, offering the most advanced fully digital hearing aids. Professional service fees include comprehensive fitting and follow-up services, including reprogramming and ongoing care. Each hearing aid comes with at least a two-year repair warranty, a one-time loss and damage guarantee and a 45-day adjustment period. Any returns during the adjustment period are given a full refund less the professional service fees for the audiological evaluation, communication needs assessment and fitting fee.
Five Elements of a Properly Fitted Hearing Aid
- Hearing Aid Exam and Selection
Following a comprehensive audiological evaluation, the audiologist will assess all of your audiological and non-audiological needs to determine which style and technology is best suited to meet your communication needs. Additional testing such as frequency-specific loudness discomfort levels are completed at this time and ear impressions are taken to ensure a proper fit of the earmolds or hearing aids. - Hearing Aid Prescriptive Programming
All hearing aids are preprogrammed based on an appropriate prescriptive method. Electroacoustic measurements are used to verify that the hearing aid's electroacoustic parameters are set appropriately according to your individual hearing loss. Such careful attention to programming is a first step in ensuring a properly fitted hearing instrument. - Hearing Aid Verification and Validation
On the day of the fitting, specialized real ear measurements are taken to verify that the gain and output of the hearing aid have been set to amplify speech appropriately within your dynamic range of hearing. Aided soundfield testing is also performed to validate your ability to hear soft sounds, and to recognize speech at normal levels in quiet and in noise with your new hearing aids. - Hearing Aid Orientation and Counseling
Personal hearing aid orientation is provided to ensure that you understand how to properly care for and use your hearing aids. Counseling is provided regarding proper expectations based on your hearing loss, the need to allow for an adaptation period and the importance of using communication strategies to gain the most benefit from your new hearing aids. - Hearing Aid Follow-up
Initial and ongoing follow up is important to long-term success. During the initial adjustment period, the audiologist will closely monitor your performance and provide any adjustments to the hearing aids as necessary. Outcome measurements are used to assess if the goals of the fitting have been met. All follow up is included for two years and should occur regularly in three-month intervals.
Scheduling
The speech and hearing clinics are located on ASU's Tempe campus. To schedule an appointment, please contact the ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic.