Live Speech Mapping

In the past, hearing evaluations and fittings for hearing aids consisted mostly of a series of beeps and noises. Today, providers use new technologies and methods to make hearing evaluations and hearing aid programming more effective.

In fact, one of the more advanced technologies available is live speech mapping. This method of fitting hearing aids uses speech to help the specialist adjust hearing aids to the right settings for each wearer. Live speech mapping makes fitting appointments more interactive. Also, it can reduce the number of office visits required for successful hearing aid programming.

Speech mapping is a best practice for verifying the hearing aids to ensure they are providing the most benefit. However, many offices don’t do it.  So, make sure that any office you visit utilizes this service during your fitting.  You will have much better results, and you will be much more satisfied with your hearing aids.

What is Live Speech Mapping?

Live speech mapping is a fitting verification method. It ensures that your hearing specialist programs your hearing aids for your individual needs. With this method, small microphones placed in the ear canal distinguish differences in how you are able to hear speech through your hearing aids.

For your live speech mapping appointment, you should bring a family member or close friend to act as the “gauge” of your ability to hear live voices.

Your hearing care professional uses high-tech equipment to “see” what you hear through your hearing aids on a screen in real time. The results may also be displayed on a wall-mounted screen so that you can also see the adjustments and participate in the process. This allows both you and your family members to visualize and understand the differences that hearing aids can make in your hearing ability.

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Benefits of Live Speech Mapping

Live speech mapping is a best practice because of its accuracy. Other mapping and hearing evaluation methods often need tweaking before the hearing aid works perfectly for the user. Live speech mapping increases the chances that your hearing aid mapping will be done correctly on the first try.

Live speech mapping also creates a much more positive fitting experience by allowing both you and your family to see the positive impacts of your hearing aids immediately. Both you and your family will be engaged in the fitting process, making it a joint affair.

If you have a hearing loss, you may not be able to fully understand what you can and cannot hear, and therefore, you may not understand everything you are missing. With this method, you will hear the improvements immediately, and you will see exactly what you can and cannot hear in real-time.

Additional Benefits Live Speech Mapping:

  • Focuses on the important function of being able to effectively hear human speech
  • Engages both you and your family in the fitting process
  • Provides immediate and tangible results
  • Increases successful outcomes of fittings
  • Improves your confidence and comfort in using your new hearing aids
  • Provides more accurate programming of hearing aids

Live speech mapping is truly a wonderful new technology for hearing specialists, those with hearing loss, and their families alike. Contact Stanford Hearing to get started.