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Framingham Today
By the People, for the People
Two Key Questions to Ask Patients Before Hearing Aid Fittings
Checking a patient's readiness and comfort level can lead to more successful hearing aid use.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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This article explores two important questions that hearing healthcare professionals should ask patients before fitting them with hearing aids. Asking about the patient's perceived importance of improving their hearing and their comfort level with using hearing aids can help ensure better adherence to recommendations and reduce returns. The author explains that proceeding with hearing aid fittings when a patient is not psychologically prepared often leads to unsuccessful outcomes, wasted clinical time, and negative word-of-mouth. By taking just a few minutes to assess readiness, clinicians can have more productive conversations and set patients up for better long-term success with amplification.
Why it matters
Hearing aid returns represent lost opportunities to help patients and their families, as well as a substantial investment of clinical time that cannot be recovered. Even a small fraction of patients who return hearing aids or choose not to pursue amplification can adversely impact a clinic's bottom line. Taking a few minutes upfront to gauge a patient's readiness can lead to better outcomes.
The details
The article outlines three potential scenarios that can occur when clinicians proceed with hearing aid recommendations without first assessing the patient's readiness: 1) the patient challenges the findings and leaves with no intention to follow up, 2) the patient appears compliant but is not fully on board, or 3) the patient recognizes the hearing loss but is not psychologically prepared to use hearing aids, leading to later returns or the aids being left unused. To avoid these outcomes, the author suggests two simple questions to ask patients: 1) "How important is it to you to have fewer arguments about the hearing loss others believe you have?" and 2) "How comfortable are you following my recommendations, even if that might include the use of hearing aids?" Addressing any low importance or comfort levels before proceeding can lead to more successful fittings.
- The article was published on February 11, 2026.
The players
John Greer Clark
A professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati, co-author of "Counseling Infused Audiologic Care" and "Introduction to Audiology", and author of the consumer guide "Hearing to the Max".
Michael A. Harvey
A clinical psychologist who provides training and consultation on mental health issues related to hearing loss, and has published over 60 articles including the books "Listen with the Heart: Relationships and Hearing Loss" and "The Odyssey of Hearing Loss: Tales of Triumph".
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This article highlights the importance of assessing a patient's readiness and comfort level before proceeding with hearing aid recommendations. Taking just a few minutes upfront to have these conversations can lead to better long-term outcomes, improved clinic efficiency, and more satisfied patients.
