One quick question will tell you if you have found a GOOD audiologist: "Do you perform Real Ear Measurement as part of fitting hearing aids?"
Your hearing test in the sound-proof box produces an audiogram, which is used as a prescription for adjusting hearing aids. All hearing aid manufacturers provide audiologists with software that will convert that audiogram into settings inside the devices. Many audiologists are satisfied with delivering your new hearing aids, showing you how to operate them, and then using their computers to adjust the settings according to the audiograms. They do this first fitting and send you on your way with no follow-up. The problem with that is the first fit is very often not very precise and misses what you really need. If your hearing aid provider does not schedule a follow-up, beware that you probably haven't received the best service.
The audiologists who follow Best Practices will have you return after a week for Real Ear Measurement. Thatweek is a period in which your brain adapts to how the new hearing aids sound. After that week the audiologist can do a very precise Real Ear Measurement.
The audiologist will insert a microphone (in a very tiny tube) inside your ear and then put in your hearing aids. A series of computerized tests will then measure the sounds emitting from the hearing aids and analyze how they match you audiogram / prescription. At that point, a Best Practices audiologist can fine tune the settings to get as close to the prescription as possible. Often, that makes a very significant difference in the effectiveness of the new hearing aids.
Learn more about Best Practices by watching this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F1pkDhb8ys
Lear more about Real Ear Measurement by watching this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHR0Oa6I-wY
Check out this audiologist in The Villages Brownwood Center for Advanced Health Care: Dr. Al Turri is one of those audiologists who takes the extra time to do Real Ear Measurement. He produces fantastic results.
Al Turri, AuD, 352-674-1799
No, I don't get any financial compensation for this recommendation. I am simply an extremely satisfied, delighted, customer with a severe hearing loss that Dr. Turri has treated using Best Practices and Real Ear Measurement.