Hearing Aids & Fittings
Audiology Care in Red Bank, NJ

A hearing aid fitting with a NeuroHear audiologist takes approximately 1 hour.

During the hearing aid fitting your audiologist at NeuroHear will first go over what to expect the first week of treatment of the hearing loss with hearing aid(s), they will explain the different parts of the hearing aid(s), how they work, the technology, how to maintain them, how to charge them, how to insert them in your ear(s). After going over the basics of the hearing device, they will fit them to your ears. This process involves the audiologist measuring your ear to find an appropriate receiver (if you have receiver-in-canal hearing aids), and they will find the right dome for your ear so that it fits comfortably and your own voice is tolerable. If you wish, your audiologist will connect the devices to your smartphone and show you how to adjust the levels of volume, sharpness and clarity depending on the situation you're in.

Hearing aids do not restore hearing to normal, but they help you hear and understand much more clearly by enhancing sound and improving how your brain processes it. Think of them like glasses for your ears, they make sound clearer and speech easier to follow, but they don’t “cure” the underlying hearing loss. Most of our patients describe the difference as “life-changing clarity,” even though it’s not the same as their natural hearing once was. With consistent use, hearing aids can; retrain your brain to recognize sounds again, improve speech understanding (especially in conversation), reduce listening effort and fatigue, lessen tinnitus perception for many people.

Most hearing aids last about 4 to 5 years with proper care. Their lifespan depends a few factors such as; (1) maintenance, regular cleanings and servicing helps prevent damage from moisture, wax and debris, (2) technology, advances in hearing aid technology happen every few years, so many patients upgrade around year 4 for new features and better clarity and (3) environment, humidity, sweat and heat can shorten a device’s life if not protected properly.

If you have hearing loss in both ears, using two hearing aids is almost always recommended. That’s because our brains are designed to hear with both ears working together like stereo sound. Using only one hearing aid when both ears need help can make the unaided ear weaker over time and limit how well your brain processes sound. Wearing two hearing aids helps you understand speech better, especially in noisy environments, locate where sounds come from (directionality), hear more naturally and clearly, and keep both ears active, which supports brain processing and may slow down auditory decline.

Getting used to hearing aids can take a few weeks to a couple of months, this varies from person to person. At NeuroHear we offer a two month adaptation period for patients who are new to hearing aids and the process of treating their hearing loss. The first week of treating your hearing loss with hearing aids is just about getting used to incorporating them in your daily routine and less about how you’re hearing. As each week goes by, you and your audiologist from NeuroHear will hone in on your experience and we will create a tailored and customized plan so that you are adapting to the new devices and your hearing and processing is improving.

For rechargeable hearing aids, make sure you’re getting a complete full charge overnight — our medical prescriptive hearing aids cannot be overcharged on the charger, so leaving them in overnight won’t hurt them. Avoid charging them in extreme temperatures such as excessive heat or cold. Always use the charger that was provided for you; while Amazon and other third-party vendors may seem convenient, their chargers can damage the hearing aids or shorten battery life. Be sure to wipe the contact points of the charger and hearing aid so they stay clean and make efficient contact for charging. ChatGPT said:nnFor battery-operated hearing aids, after removing the tab on the battery, let it “breathe” for a few minutes before placing it in the hearing aid. This allows oxygen to fully activate the zinc inside and reach maximum charge capacity. Keep the batteries away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. Turn off your hearing aids and open the battery door when not in use to reduce battery drain and let moisture escape. Oils and dirt from your fingers can reduce battery performance, so handle them carefully. Avoid carrying batteries loosely, as metal objects like keys or coins can short-circuit them. Always check expiration dates, since older batteries lose voltage over time.

Your hearing aids may need a tune-up if you notice that speech sounds muffled or unclear, you’re asking people to repeat themselves more often, background noise feels overwhelming, you hear whistling or feedback, you’re constantly changing the volume, you experience listening fatigue or headaches, or it’s been over 6–12 months since your last check. If any of these apply, schedule a hearing aid adjustment and cleaning — small changes can make a big difference in clarity and comfort.

Dr. Ina Selita will go over how to maintain your hearing devices, including how to clean them. Ultimately, this involves wiping the devices down with a cleaning cloth that she will provide, changing the domes, replacing the wax guards or filters, replacing any microphone covers if necessary, and brushing the microphone covers. If you have earmolds, she will go over how to clean those as well. In addition, NeuroHear provides in-house industrial cleaning technologies for your hearing aids to ensure peak performance. These services are included in your plan with NeuroHear.