Hearing Aid Fitting
What Happens at Your Hearing Aid Fitting
Your hearing aid fitting in Apple Valley, CA is a 60- to 90-minute visit. We program your new devices to your hearing test results, then place a thin probe microphone in your ear canal for Real Ear Measurement (REM) to confirm the sound reaching your eardrum matches your prescription. Next comes comfort tuning and hands-on practice with cleaning, charging, and batteries. Family members are welcome.
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Owner & Doctor of Audiology
Why We Never Skip the Verification Step
Some practices skip REM to save time and leave hearing aids on the manufacturer's default settings. We don't. Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has fit hearing aids since 1991, and every new device here is checked in your ear. Follow-up is flexible too: one or two visits in the first month, remote programming from home, curbside appointments, or telehealth check-ins for patients who can't easily travel.
Hearing Aid Fitting FAQs
Common questions about a hearing aid fitting in Apple Valley: how long the visit takes, what Real Ear Measurement involves, getting used to new sound, and follow-up care.
Plan on 60 to 90 minutes. The first part is programming and verification: we load your hearing test results into the fitting software, then measure the sound in your ear canal and adjust until it matches your prescription. After that, we fine-tune for comfort while you listen to speech and everyday noise.
The rest of the visit is practice. You'll learn to put the aids in and take them out, clean them, change a wax guard, and charge them or swap batteries. If you want help pairing them with your phone or TV, bring your phone along. To book a fitting at any of our four offices, call or text (760) 503-1700.
It doesn't hurt. Real Ear Measurement is a quick, painless check where a soft, thin tube sits in your ear canal next to the hearing aid. We play recorded speech, and the tube's microphone measures exactly how loud each pitch is when it reaches your eardrum.
Every ear canal is shaped differently, so the same setting can sound very different from one person to the next. REM shows us whether you're getting the amplification your audiogram (your hearing test chart) calls for, and lets us correct it on the spot. We do it at every new fitting and every annual check-up. Read more on our Real Ear Measurement page.
Many patients settle in within a few weeks of daily wear, and some keep adjusting for a couple of months. Hearing loss usually creeps in slowly, so your brain has grown used to a quieter world. At first, running water, the turn signal, and your own voice may seem louder than they should.
The best thing you can do is wear the aids all day, every day, rather than saving them for special occasions. Make a note of anything that bothers you, whether it's the clatter of dishes or a noisy restaurant in Victorville, and bring the list to your follow-up. We can soften sharp sounds, add a program for places you visit often, or change the fit if something feels uncomfortable.
Often, yes. Many newer hearing aids support remote programming, so we can change settings through an app on your phone while you sit at home. That's a big help for patients across the High Desert who'd rather not make the drive for a small tweak.
When a visit is needed, you have options. We offer curbside fittings and adjustments, telehealth appointments, and mail-in repairs. Your follow-up plan includes one or two visits in the first month and an annual check-up with REM, and you can bring in a hearing aid that isn't working right any time. Call or text (760) 503-1700 with questions between visits.
Hearing Aids Tuned to Your Ears, Not a Factory
Hearing aids only help if they're set for your ears, not generic factory settings. That's why every new fitting at Optimum Audiology includes Real Ear Measurement, a quick test with a tiny microphone that confirms the sound reaching your eardrum matches your hearing loss. We check again at every annual visit, see you for follow-ups in the first month, and most purchases include a trial period so you can hear the difference at home.
Patient Reviews
What patients across the High Desert, Visalia, and La Verne say about their care with Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D.
Expert Hearing Care From the High Desert to Visalia
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., has helped patients hear better since 1991, and every plan starts with a thorough hearing evaluation.
Serving Southern & Central California
Four Offices, One Number
Dr. Kristi Mendoza, Au.D., and her team see patients in Apple Valley, Jess Ranch, La Verne, and Visalia. Choose the office closest to you on the map.
- Call or text: (760) 503-1700
- info@optimumaudiology.com
- Doctor of Audiology since 1991
- Real Ear Measurement on every fitting
- VA Community Care & OWCP provider
Optimum Audiology is a great place to go to for my hearing aids. Friendly staff and very helpful. They take care of everything from insurance, to keeping your hearing aids properly working. Thanks for doing a great job for me Optimum Audiology.— Anthony A.
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