How to program your hearing aid and choose the right channel

Every day, as we go about our usual routines and activities, we are exposed to environmental noise. For people without a hearing impairment, their hearing naturally adapts to the unique sound dynamics of each environment. However, for those who suffer from hearing loss, adapting to each sound environment can be more difficult. By programming your hearing aids to meet the demands of your lifestyle, you can navigate more confidently the different listening environments.

Although everyone's daily routine varies, you are likely to experience more listening environments than you realise in one day. In a noisy coffee shop, in a crowded supermarket or even during noisy dinnertime conversations, your hearing must adapt quickly to allow you to navigate and participate in your world. Seeing as new and noisy environments are unavoidable,  programming your multi-channel hearing aids according to your lifestyle will allow you to navigate any unpredictable noise-related situations more comfortably and stay engaged.

To understand hearing aid programming, it is important to also understand how hearing aids work. Each type of hearing aid has its own function and style, but its main task is to enhance sounds to compensate for hearing loss: directional microphones pick up conversations in noisy environments, amplifiers amplify sounds from the digital signal processor and receivers send enhanced prescriptive sounds into the ear canal.

That being said, today's hearing aids are more  than just basic amplifiers, which are a completely different product. Hearing aids contain complex and articulated digital functions that process sound in a way that enables more natural and comfortable listening. The programming of hearing aids enables comfortable listening no matter where you are. 

Hearing aid programmes offer something similar to preset buttons. Instead of using the volume function of hearing aids to try to adapt to a new sound environment, you can switch from one listening setting to another. Each setting is designed specifically for your hearing loss and will take into account factors such as wind, car noise and more. Thanks to this type of programing, the sound emitted by the hearing aid is not only amplified, but also specialised. Depending on the type of hearing aid, there are a different number of programmable channels which can be enabled in different ways. 

• Manually: When entering a new setting, a small button on the hearing aids can be pressed to switch between programmes. 
• Automatically: The hearing aids are able to assess the sounds of the specific environment and automatically switch to a setting suitable for the situation. This is a popular option for people who do not wish to make any adjustments to their hearing aids and prefer to let the aids do the work. 
• Through the App: Amplifon's smartphone app allows you to connect and adjust your hearing aid from your Smartphone.

To find the right settings, the hearing care professional will calibrate the devices to minimise unwanted noise and enhance the desired sounds. Unwanted environmental noises, such as traffic, crowds and the background sounds of everyday life, are adjusted so that they do not overpower the sounds you want to hear, such as voices, music or notifications.

The hearing care professional can also adjust specific functions such as hearing aid volume, loudness levels, maximum output power, sound compression ratio and more. By calibrating these functions, enjoying your favourite activities will be even easier. Whether you are a music lover, a fan of the outdoors or a traveller, there are programmes that can minimise unwanted external sounds to help you enjoy these activities without interruption.

Hearing aids are an excellent solution for managing hearing loss, but this does not mean that the adaptation is immediate. It is quite normal that you and your brain, where sound is processed, experience a learning curve as your hearing adapts to life with hearing aids. As you settle back into a world of full of sounds, the most important thing to keep in mind is patience.

Keep in mind that you can count on your Amplifon hearing care professional to help you through this process as they are there to support you and set you up for success. Even though hearing aids are programmed to fit your life, it will take some time to feel comfortable and find the perfect adjustments. However, if the problem persists or if you continue to have hearing problems, make an appointment at your local Amplifon centre to have your hearing aids readjusted.