Personal, Unhurried Hearing Aid Fitting
If you have recently been advised to consider a hearing aid, or you are ready to move from research to a real appointment, hearing aid fitting at K&M Hearing Solutions is designed to feel unhurried and personal. We will walk you through what a fitting involves, what happens at your first appointment and review visits, how long it typically takes to adjust to new hearing aids, and what our packages include.
Our accredited audiologists in Truro conduct every appointment face-to-face, matching your hearing aid to your hearing loss, lifestyle, and your own voice. As an independent, family-run practice, we are not tied to any single manufacturer, so our recommendations are tailored entirely to what suits you.
Our accredited audiologists in Truro conduct every appointment face-to-face, matching your hearing aid to your hearing loss, lifestyle, and your own voice. As an independent, family-run practice, we are not tied to any single manufacturer, so our recommendations are tailored entirely to what suits you.
What Happens During a Hearing Aid Fitting
A hearing aid fitting is the appointment where your new hearing aids are programmed, checked for physical fit and calibrated to your prescription. It is more than being handed a device: your audiologist checks physical fit and programs each device using your hearing test results, so the amplification matches your ears rather than a generic setting. Getting a hearing aid fitted is a personalised process, shaped by your audiogram, your ears, and how you use your hearing day-to-day.
Your audiologist weighs up a number of factors before your hearing aids are ever switched on:
Your audiologist weighs up a number of factors before your hearing aids are ever switched on:
- Audiogram results guide your sound settings according to the type and degree of your hearing loss.
- Physical ear anatomy affects your hearing aid style, comfort and acoustic coupling.
- Dexterity is assessed during your audiological evaluation to help choose controls you can manage easily.
- Personal preferences, including the listening situations that matter most to you, are taken into account.
Comprehensive Hearing Assessment Before Your FittingEvery hearing aid fitting begins with a hearing assessment. This appointment includes video otoscopy, so you can see inside your ear on screen, along with pure-tone audiometry to measure how you hear across a range of frequencies. Your hearing test results give us the prescription your hearing aids will be programmed to, and they flag anything we should refer to the ENT team at Duchy Hospital before any fitting takes place. You can read more about the assessment itself on our hearing tests page.
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Choosing the Right Type of Hearing Aid
Hearing aids come in various styles to match individual needs, and the best hearing aid for you depends on your degree of hearing loss, your ear shape and how discreet you would like the device to be. We fit a full range of hearing aid types from every major manufacturer, so the shortlist is based on your assessment rather than on one brand's catalogue.
Hearing Aid Types
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Style
Behind the Ear (BTE) Best Suited For
All degrees of hearing loss, including severe hearing loss Key Features
Sits behind the outer ear, connected to a dome or ear mould; robust and easy to handle 
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Style
Receiver in Canal (RIC) Best Suited For
Mild to severe hearing loss Key Features
Discreet casing worn at the top of the ear, with the receiver placed in the ear canal 
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Style
In the Ear (ITE) Best Suited For
Mild to moderate hearing loss Key Features
Custom-made from an ear impression, filling the bowl of the ear 
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Style
In the Canal / Completely in the Canal Best Suited For
Mild to moderate hearing loss Key Features
Smaller custom shells sitting further into the ear canal, nearly invisible 
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In the Ear and Behind the Ear: What the Difference Means for You
Smaller, custom-made styles offer straightforward handling and sit close against the head, while larger models provide more power for greater degrees of hearing loss and remain a reliable choice where a traditional mould is needed. We will talk through which style fits your prescription, dexterity, and daily routine, without steering you toward one option by default.
Not Sure Which Hearing Aid Suits You?
Every ear and every hearing loss is different. Book a hearing assessment with our team, and we will recommend a type of hearing aid based on your results, your day-to-day needs and your budget — never on a single brand we prefer to sell.
Custom Ear ImpressionsIf your chosen hearing aid requires a custom shell, we take custom ear impressions at your first appointment. Impressions are made using a soft silicone-based material, gently moulded to your ear, then sent to the manufacturer to create your hearing aid or mould. Custom ear impressions help ensure a close fit and reduce the feedback, or whistling, that can occur when a device does not seal properly.
Here's what this involves in practice:
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Our Hearing Aid Fitting Process
Our hearing aid fitting process is a collaborative effort between you and your audiologist, built around two key appointments: your initial fitting and a review appointment shortly after. Each stage is designed to reduce surprises, so you know what to expect from the moment you book to the day your hearing aids feel like part of your routine.
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1. Comprehensive hearing assessment
Video otoscopy and pure-tone audiometry establish your hearing test results and prescription. 2. Initial fitting appointment
Your hearing aids are set to your prescription, checked for physical fit and demonstrated. 3. Measurements
We verify that the sound reaching your eardrum matches your prescription, not just a manufacturer's default. 4. Feedback test
We check for whistling and adjust the seal or dome size accordingly. |
5. Programme and connectivity setup
We set up listening programmes and, where compatible, phone streaming and app control. 6. 48-hour telephone review
A short call to check how the first two days have gone. 7. Final fitting and follow-up appointment
Around two weeks later, we fine-tune your hearing aids based on real-world experience. |
A hearing aid fitting appointment typically lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, though your first visit may run closer to an hour once otoscopy, prescription programming, and verification testing are completed. Audiological evaluation results influence amplification parameters and sound settings throughout, so nothing is set from a generic template.
What Happens at Your Initial FittingYour first appointment covers everything needed to leave wearing hearing aids that are safe, comfortable and correctly set. We build in plenty of time for questions, so nothing feels rushed. At this appointment, we will:
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Your Follow-Up Appointment
Follow-up appointments occur two weeks after fitting, and we also arrange a shorter telephone review around 48 hours in, so you are never left working through early questions alone. Regular review appointments monitor progress and address challenges, from comfort issues to sound clarity in specific listening situations. Aftercare support includes fine-tuning hearing aid settings and ongoing communication with our team, enhancing hearing aid effectiveness well beyond the day you first walked out wearing them.
At your two-week follow-up, we will:
- Check insertion of your hearing aids and re-instruct if needed
- Go over cleaning and maintenance again
- Fine-tune your hearing aids based on your real-world listening experience
- Review your progress and talk through anything that still feels difficult
- Set up LACE AI Pro auditory training, if appropriate, and you are comfortable using the app
- Arrange further follow-up appointments at a frequency that suits your needs
Adjusting to Your New Hearing AidsAdapting to hearing aids can take weeks to months, and it can take up to twelve weeks for your brain to fully adjust to new sounds. Initial sounds may feel new or heightened for new users, and some people experience listening fatigue during the first few weeks as their brains relearn how to filter background noise. Wearing hearing aids during all your waking hours is recommended once you are comfortable, since consistent use tends to shorten the adjustment period rather than lengthen it.
We ask every patient to be patient with themselves. It takes time for the brain to recalibrate to amplified sounds, and if you need a short break from your hearing aids in the early days, that is completely normal. We are here to support you through every stage of the adjustment process, not just on the day you are fitted. |
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Hearing Aid Technology and the Manufacturers We Fit
As an independent practice, we fit prescription hearing aids from all major manufacturers, not just one preferred brand. Hearing aid technology varies considerably between manufacturers, and the best hearing aid for you depends on your hearing loss, your day-to-day environments and your personal preferences, not on which brand happens to sit on our shelf. We work with hearing aids from the following manufacturers:
Most modern digital hearing aids include some form of noise reduction, though how assertively it works varies by brand and by device. If background noise is your main frustration, we may recommend a hearing aid with stronger noise-reduction features; if you would rather keep more natural environmental sound and rely on artificial intelligence processing only when needed, a different manufacturer may suit you better. Situational hearing needs also influence the choice of directional microphones, so someone who spends most of their time in quiet rooms may need a different setup than someone who eats out several times a week.
Using two hearing aids, where appropriate, can enhance sound localisation and overall clarity compared with a single device, as it helps your brain judge where sounds are coming from. Many current hearing aids also offer wireless connectivity for phone calls and streaming, along with rechargeable batteries or, on some models, disposable batteries for those who prefer them.
Using two hearing aids, where appropriate, can enhance sound localisation and overall clarity compared with a single device, as it helps your brain judge where sounds are coming from. Many current hearing aids also offer wireless connectivity for phone calls and streaming, along with rechargeable batteries or, on some models, disposable batteries for those who prefer them.
Aftercare and Ongoing Support
Our support does not end at your final appointment. Every package includes several years of aftercare, and we offer in-house hearing aid repairs for common issues such as blocked filters, worn microphone covers, or replacement receiver wires. If your hearing aids need a manufacturer repair, we will arrange it and, where appropriate, lend you a set of aids to wear in the meantime. We also support patients who purchased hearing aids elsewhere and need adjustments, servicing or honest advice from an independent hearing care professional.
If tinnitus is part of your hearing picture, our tinnitus consultation and CBT support sit alongside your hearing aid fitting. If wax buildup is affecting your hearing, our earwax removal service can clear it before your assessment.
If tinnitus is part of your hearing picture, our tinnitus consultation and CBT support sit alongside your hearing aid fitting. If wax buildup is affecting your hearing, our earwax removal service can clear it before your assessment.
FAQ'S
How long does a hearing aid fitting appointment take?
Most hearing aid fitting appointments last between 45 and 60 minutes. This covers otoscopy, programming your hearing aids to your prescription, verification testing and a check for whistling, along with guidance on insertion, removal and daily care.
What is the difference between in-the-ear and behind-the-ear hearing aids?
In-the-ear hearing aids are custom-made and sit within the outer ear, generally suiting mild to moderate hearing loss. The alternative style sits behind it, connecting to a dome or mould in the ear canal, and can treat all degrees of hearing loss, including severe hearing loss. The right type of hearing aid depends on your prescription and your day-to-day preferences.
How soon after my fitting will I have a follow-up appointment?
We arrange a telephone review around 48 hours after your fitting, followed by a full review visit roughly two weeks later. At this visit, we fine-tune your hearing aids based on how you have found wearing them in real listening situations and arrange further reviews if needed.
How long does it take to get used to wearing hearing aids?
Adjusting to hearing aids is a gradual process, and it can take up to 12 weeks for your brain to fully adapt to new, amplified sounds. Many people notice some listening fatigue in the first few weeks. Wearing your hearing aids consistently during waking hours and attending your review appointments tend to make the adjustment period shorter and more comfortable.
Will I need custom ear impressions for my hearing aids?
Only if you choose a custom in-ear, in-canal, or completely in-canal style. If so, we take a soft silicone-based impression of your ear during your first appointment, which is then sent to the manufacturer to build your hearing aid or mould to fit precisely
Can I use my hearing aids with my phone for calls and streaming?
Many modern hearing aids include wireless connectivity, allowing phone calls, music and podcasts to stream directly if your device and phone are compatible. We set this up, along with any relevant control app, during your appointment if it suits your needs.
What if I already have hearing aids I bought elsewhere?
We are happy to support patients with hearing aids purchased elsewhere, including adjustments, servicing and general aftercare. Book a hearing check with us, and we will advise honestly on whether your current hearing aids still meet your needs or whether it is worth considering new hearing aids.
