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Hearing Aid Fitting & Verification in Burlington
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Understanding Your Hearing, One Test at a Time
If you've searched "hearing test near me" because something feels off, you probably already have a suspicion. What you don't know is how much your hearing has changed, or what to do next.
At Always Hearing Clinic, every diagnostic hearing assessment is performed by Dorothy Gesuale, a Hearing Instrument Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in hearing care. You spend an hour with her, not a technician you'll never see again. She runs the full assessment herself, explains what she finds in plain language, and walks you through what it means for your hearing health before you leave.
This assessment costs $75. We don't offer it for free, and that's on purpose. A free hearing test is often a quick screening built to get you in the door. Ours is a comprehensive hearing assessment, and we'd rather you book it because you're ready to understand your hearing than because it costs nothing.
Finding the right hearing aid brand
At our hearing clinic, we fit digital hearing aids from all of the leading manufacturers, with no incentive to push one brand over another. Dorothy Gesuale, our Hearing Instrument Specialist, bases her recommendation on your hearing loss, your hearing goals, and your lifestyle. We make sure we have thought of everything when considering the benefits and features of a hearing aid brand. Your specific hearing needs are a large part of that decision.
Making sure the hearing aid fits
There's more than one style of hearing aid to choose from, too: behind-the-ear, receiver-in-canal, in-the-ear, completely-in-canal, and invisible-in-canal, for a more discreet fit. Your ear is as unique as your fingerprints. The style of hearing aid we recommend is based upon a number of factors, including your hearing loss, your daily activities, the shape and size of your ear, your dexterity, comfort preferences, and lifestyle needs. Properly fitted devices are essential in order to get the most benefit out of your hearing aids. We offer custom molded options that ensure a perfect fit that will fit comfortably and securely, allowing for clear sound.
Staying in budget
Ontario residents with a valid health card may qualify for a provincial grant. The assistive devices program (ADP) covers up to 75% of the approved cost of an eligible device, up to a maximum of $500 per ear ($1,000 for a pair) toward the cost of hearing aids, available once every five years. We'll walk you through the application. If you have private health insurance or extended health benefits, they may also provide coverage for hearing devices. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to verify your coverage details. Financing options are also available if you'd like to spread the cost over time.
Picking the right add-ons
Most modern hearing aids also work with a range of accessories. Depending on your device, that can include rechargeable batteries instead of disposables, a remote control for easy adjustments, or a TV streamer that sends sound directly to your hearing aids. Some patients want fully automatic hearing aids that don't require adjustments or extra gadgets. At Always Hearing Clinic, we'll talk through which accessories make sense for your hearing aids and your day-to-day life.
What Verification Means, and Why It Matters
Verification is the testing process that confirms your hearing aids are programmed correctly, delivering the precise amount of amplification your specific hearing loss prescription calls for, not a manufacturer's default setting.
We do this using real ear measurement: a small probe placed in your ear canal during programming that measures exactly what sound is reaching your eardrum. It's the only way to confirm your hearing devices are neither over-amplifying nor under-amplifying your hearing. Think of it like an eyeglass prescription: too weak, and it doesn't help, too strong and it can actually do harm. Real ear measurement is how our hearing care professionals make sure your hearing aids are calibrated to exactly what you need, not a manufacturer's best guess. It also takes real skill and experience to do well: reading the results correctly and knowing what to adjust isn't something every clinician is trained or confident in. We perform real ear measurement at every fitting and whenever adjustments are made. Not every clinic does.
What Happens During Your Fitting
Getting a hearing aid fitted properly takes more than one visit. Here's what that process looks like with us.
1
Initial Hearing Assessment and Recommendation
We start with your hearing assessment and thoroughly explain your results. If hearing aids are recommended, we discuss which hearing aids make sense for your hearing loss, your lifestyle, and your budget.
2
Fitting and Programming
Your hearing aids are programmed to your prescription and verified using real ear measurement, so we can confirm they're delivering exactly what your ears need.
3
Fitting and Follow-Up
We check in on how your hearing aids feel and sound in your day-to-day life, and make adjustments based on your experience and feedback so far.
4
Follow-Up and Fine-Tuning
We gradually allow your brain to adapt to optimal volume and clarity with your new devices. Our goal is to ensure a comfortable transition to better hearing. We continue adjusting your devices as needed to help you settle in until your hearing aids are performing the way they should.
What To Expect After Your First Visit
Most patients need two to four visits, each about 60 to 90 minutes, though we don't limit the number of visits it takes to get it right. There's no one-size-fits-all timeline. How long it takes depends on your hearing loss, whether you've worn hearing aids before, and how you're adjusting at each visit.
It's common to feel like everything is too loud at your first fitting. That's normal, especially if it's been years since you've heard at a typical volume, and it doesn't mean something's wrong. We ease you in rather than jumping straight to your full target volume, and we pace each appointment around what you're ready for, introducing one thing at a time instead of everything at once.
We also tailor each appointment to you specifically, not just your hearing loss. If you're comfortable with technology, we'll spend more time on things like pairing your hearing aids to your phone. If you're not, we'll focus on the basics, like getting comfortable inserting and removing them, and cover the rest when you're ready. We also take into account things like dexterity and vision, since inserting and adjusting a hearing aid correctly depends on both. Either way, we don't take shortcuts. Our goal is for you to understand and use everything your hearing aids can actually do.
Once your hearing aids are dialed in, we stay involved. We recommend a check-in about every six months, and an annual hearing test to make sure your programming still matches your hearing. A lot can change in six months, health conditions, mobility, even where you're living. These small check-ins help us catch those changes before they become a bigger problem. No news is usually good news, but we'd still rather stay connected with you than wait a year to find out what's changed.
What Patients Say
Not only have I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand how much care and compassion Dorothy provides to her patients, but I also had the opportunity to work with her a couple of years ago in this same industry. I can confidently say that her commitment to excellence, professionalism, and ensuring her patients receive the utmost care is something you are sure to experience at Always Hearing Clinic.
Dorothy truly goes above and beyond, and I couldn’t recommend her more highly for all of your hearing needs. You will be in exceptional hands!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "verification" actually mean?
It's the testing process that confirms your hearing aids are programmed correctly and delivering the exact amount of amplification your hearing loss prescription calls for.
How many appointments does a hearing aid fitting take?
Most patients need two to four visits, about 60 to 90 minutes each. We don't cap the number of visits. If it takes longer to get your hearing aids sounding right, we keep working at it.
What if I've worn hearing aids before but never had this done?
That's common. We hear it often: "my old provider never told me that" or "never showed me that." Some patients come to us wearing hearing aids that were never properly verified or fully explained. We'll check your current devices and adjust or reprogram them as needed.
Is it normal for hearing aids to feel too loud at first?
Yes. Many patients are surprised by how loud things sound at their first fitting. That's expected, especially if it's been years since your hearing was at a normal level. We ease you in gradually rather than starting at your full target volume.
Will I be given a lot of information all at once?
No. We pace what we cover across your appointments so you're not overwhelmed, and so you know what to expect at each step.
How often will I need to come back after my hearing aids are fitted?
We recommend a check-in about every six months, plus an annual hearing test to keep your programming current as your hearing or lifestyle changes.
Can financing help with the cost of hearing aids?
Yes. Financing options are available. In Ontario, with a valid health card, the assistive devices program (ADP) covers up to 75% of the approved cost of an eligible device, up to a maximum of $500 per ear ($1,000 for a pair) toward the cost of hearing aids, available once every five years.
Do hearing aids come with accessories?
Many do. Depending on your device, options can include a remote control for easy adjustments, a TV streamer that sends audio directly into your ears, or a wireless mini microphone for clearer conversations in noise. We'll let you know what's available with the hearing aids we recommend.
Book Your Fitting Consultation
Hearing aids programmed to your ears, verified, and explained every step of the way.
Testimonials
Dorothy Gesuale is a Hearing Instrument Specialist with more than 20 years of experience across every level of the hearing healthcare industry. Always Hearing Clinic is built on everything she learned, and on her conviction that patients deserve better than what most clinics deliver. When you come to Always Hearing, you are not seeing a staff clinician. You are seeing the person who built this practice, who takes your outcome personally, and who will be there at your next appointment.
