What should I check during a hearing aid trial?
During a hearing aid trial you should check five things: whether speech is clearer in the places you find hard, whether the hearing aids are comfortable all day, whether your own voice and everyday sounds become acceptable, whether you can handle them yourself, and whether they work with your phone and TV. Keep a short diary and ask a family member for their view — they often notice improvements first.
A trial is your chance to find out how a hearing aid works in your real life, not only in the clinic.
What should I ask before the trial starts?
Before the trial starts, ask your audiologist:
- Which model and technology level am I trying, and why this one?
- What is the price per ear, in writing — and is a pair kit priced differently?
- How long is the trial, and what happens at the end?
- Has the fitting been checked with Real Ear Measurement (REM)? REM measures the sound the hearing aid actually delivers in your ear canal and is the most reliable way to check a fitting.
- What should I do if something feels wrong during the trial?
What is the 12-point hearing aid trial checklist?
Use this checklist during your hearing aid trial, and tick each point you are happy with:
| # | Check | What “good” looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conversation at home | You follow family conversation with less effort and fewer repeats. |
| 2 | Conversation in noise | Speech is easier in a market, a restaurant or a family gathering — not perfect, but better. |
| 3 | Television | You can watch at a volume others are comfortable with. |
| 4 | Phone calls | Calls are clear, by holding the phone or by streaming. |
| 5 | Your own voice | It sounds acceptable after the first few days. |
| 6 | Loud sounds | Pressure cooker whistles, traffic and doors are not painful. |
| 7 | Comfort | You can wear the hearing aids all day without soreness. |
| 8 | Whistling | No whistling while you talk or move normally. |
| 9 | Handling | You can put them in, take them out, charge or change batteries yourself. |
| 10 | Phone and app | Pairing, streaming and the app work with your phone. |
| 11 | Appearance | You are comfortable with how they look. |
| 12 | Family’s view | The people you live with notice a difference. |
Write one line in a diary each day — where you were and what was easy or hard. This makes your follow-up visit far more useful.
What should I do if the trial hearing aid is not right?
If the trial hearing aid is not right, tell your audiologist what is not working rather than giving up. Many problems — loud sounds, a strange own voice, whistling, discomfort — are fixed by fine-tuning or a different dome or earmould. If it is still not right, ask to try a different technology level or another brand. At Fairfield we fit six brands, so we can usually find a better match. Compare brands on our hearing aid price list.
What should I ask before I buy?
Before you buy hearing aids, get answers in writing to these questions:
- Final price per ear and what it includes (fitting, REM, follow-ups, charger)
- Warranty length, and what it covers
- Free aftercare period — at Fairfield, cleaning, check-ups and fine-tuning are free for two years
- What happens if a hearing aid is lost or damaged — ask about loss and damage cover
- Exchange value for your old hearing aids, if you have any — see our exchange offer
- CGHS or other scheme support, if you are eligible — see CGHS hearing aids
What are the warning signs of a poor hearing aid trial?
The warning signs of a poor hearing aid trial are: no proper hearing test before the trial, no Real Ear Measurement, pressure to pay on the same day, no written price per ear, and no clear follow-up plan. A good clinic gives you time and written information, and is happy for you to take a family member along.
How long should a hearing aid trial be?
A hearing aid trial should be long enough to try the hearing aids in the places that matter to you — at home, outside and in at least one noisy setting. Ask your clinic how long its trial lasts and what is included before you start. At Fairfield, we agree the trial plan with you after your free hearing test. Book your free hearing test.
