Hearing Aid Fittings
Buying a hearing aid is the easy part. Fitting it correctly is what decides whether it works.
Two people can wear the same hearing aid and have completely different experiences with it.
The difference is the fitting — how precisely the device is programmed to your specific hearing loss, your ear canal, and the situations you actually need to hear in.
Dr.
Ashley Crawford fits every device herself, verifies it objectively, and adjusts it until it is right.
Verified With Real-Ear Measurement
A hearing aid is programmed from a prescription based on your audiogram — but what the manufacturer predicts and what actually reaches your eardrum are not the same thing. Ear canals differ in size and shape, and those differences change the sound substantially. Real-ear measurement places a thin probe microphone in your ear canal alongside the hearing aid and measures what you are genuinely receiving. Dr. Crawford then adjusts the device until the measured output matches your prescription. It is the difference between assuming a fitting is correct and knowing it is — and it is not something every practice does.
What the Fitting Appointment Involves
Your fitting takes about an hour. Dr. Crawford checks the physical fit and comfort, programs the devices to your prescription, runs real-ear verification, and then walks you through everything you need to know: inserting and removing them, charging, connecting to your phone or TV, and what to expect over the first few weeks. You will also hear how they sound in a normal conversation before you leave. Bringing a family member is genuinely useful here — a familiar voice is the best test there is.
Follow-Up Is Part of the Fitting
Your brain needs time to adjust to sounds it has not heard clearly in a while, and what feels right on day one often needs refining by week three. That is normal and expected, not a sign something went wrong. Follow-up appointments are built into your care. You will come back to fine-tune the settings based on real situations you have been in — the restaurant that was still difficult, the television that is now too bright. This is where a good fitting becomes a great one.
Common Questions
Can you fit hearing aids I bought somewhere else?
Often yes, depending on the manufacturer and how the device was originally programmed. Call the office and Dr. Crawford can tell you whether your specific devices can be reprogrammed here.
How long until I get used to them?
Most people adjust over two to four weeks of consistent daily wear. Wearing them only occasionally makes the adjustment take longer, not shorter.
Can my fitting happen at home?
Yes. Dr. Crawford brings the same equipment, including real-ear verification, to your home or senior living community anywhere in East Tennessee.