Hearing Aid Fitting in Wilmington & Southport, NC

Getting hearing aids is one of the most meaningful investments you can make in your health and quality of life. But the device itself is only part of the equation — how it’s fitted and programmed makes all the difference between a hearing aid that transforms your world and one that collects dust in a drawer.

At Excel Audiology in Wilmington & Southport, NC, Dr. Jason Rickman, Au.D. provides thorough, evidence-based hearing aid fittings using real ear measurement — the gold standard for verifying that your hearing aids are programmed precisely for your individual ears. Every step of our fitting process is designed to maximize your outcomes and support your long-term success with hearing devices.

Step 1 — Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation

Every fitting begins with a complete diagnostic hearing evaluation. We don’t fit hearing aids based on a brief screening — we conduct a full audiometric assessment including pure-tone audiometry, bone conduction testing, speech audiometry, and tympanometry. This gives us an accurate and complete picture of your hearing before any device is selected or ordered.

Your audiogram establishes the precise amplification targets your hearing aids will need to meet at each frequency. It also tells us the type of hearing loss you have, which directly affects which devices and styles are appropriate for your needs.

Step 2 — Hearing Aid Selection

With your audiogram in hand, Dr. Rickman will discuss hearing aid options with you. This is a collaborative conversation — not a sales pitch. We consider:

Your Hearing Loss

Type, degree, and configuration across frequencies

Your Lifestyle

How active you are, the listening environments you spend time in (quiet home, busy restaurant, workplace, outdoors)

Your Technology Preferences

Comfort with smartphones, interest in Bluetooth streaming, preference for rechargeable vs. disposable batteries

Physical Considerations

Ear anatomy, dexterity, and whether custom earmolds are needed

Your Budget

We carry devices at multiple price points and will find the best technology within your range

In many cases, we’ll have you try a pair of hearing aids before making a final decision, so you can experience the technology firsthand.

Step 3 — Real Ear Measurement — The Gold Standard

This is where Excel Audiology’s fitting process separates itself from many other providers.

Hearing aid manufacturers program devices using algorithms that calculate a “target” amplification based on your audiogram. These are a useful starting point — but they don’t account for the unique acoustic properties of your specific ear canal. Every ear canal is different in length, volume, and shape, and these differences affect how much sound actually reaches your eardrum.

Real ear measurement (REM) uses a thin probe microphone placed alongside your hearing aid in your ear canal. While calibrated sounds are played through a speaker, the REM system measures exactly what is being delivered to your eardrum — at every frequency — in real time. Dr. Rickman then adjusts your hearing aid programming until the measurements match your individual prescription target precisely.

The clinical evidence for REM is compelling: hearing aids fit with real ear measurement consistently produce better speech clarity, reduced listening effort, higher patient satisfaction, and better long-term device use compared to those fit without it. Yet studies show that fewer than 30% of hearing aid fittings in the U.S. include real ear verification. At Excel Audiology, it is standard practice at every fitting — no exceptions.

Step 4 — Physical Fitting and Comfort Check

Getting the right acoustic result is essential, but so is physical comfort. At your fitting appointment, we ensure:

  • The hearing aids sit correctly in or behind your ear without causing pressure or pain
  • Earmolds or domes fit securely without causing acoustic feedback (whistling)
  • Receiver wires and tubing are the correct length for your ear anatomy
  • The devices can be inserted and removed easily and comfortably

If custom earmolds are needed, impressions will have been taken at a prior appointment and the molds verified for fit at the fitting visit.

Step 5 — Orientation and Education

Before you leave our office, you’ll be fully equipped to use your new devices. We cover:

Insertion and Removal

Practiced until you’re comfortable

Battery Management

Charging routines for rechargeable devices or battery replacement for disposable ones

Daily Cleaning and Care

Wax guard replacement, wiping down, drying kits

Bluetooth and App Features

Pairing with smartphones, adjusting settings via manufacturer apps, streaming audio

Volume and Program Controls

Manual adjustments available on your specific devices

What to Expect

Realistic guidance on the adjustment period and what’s normal

We want you to leave feeling confident, not overwhelmed. We take as much time as needed.

Step 6 — Follow-Up Care and Fine-Tuning

The fitting appointment is not the end of the process — it’s the beginning. Your brain needs time to adapt to amplified sound after a period of hearing loss, and your programming may need fine-tuning as you gather real-world experience with your devices.

We schedule follow-up visits at 2 weeks and 30 days post-fitting as standard, with additional appointments available as needed. At each follow-up, we:

  • Review how you’ve been doing and address any concerns
  • Make programming adjustments based on your feedback
  • Address any comfort or physical fit issues
  • Assess your progress and set expectations for continued adjustment

Ongoing care — adjustments, cleanings, and check-ins — is part of what you receive when you choose Excel Audiology.

What to Expect During the Adjustment Period

New hearing aid users consistently report some version of the same experience: sounds are noticeably clearer, but the world also feels louder and more complex than expected. Your own voice may sound different. Background noise may be more prominent than you’d like at first.

This is entirely normal. The brain has been missing input — sometimes for years — and it takes time to relearn how to organize and filter all the sound it’s now receiving. Common early experiences include:

  • Your voice sounding hollow, too loud, or “in a barrel”
  • Background noise feeling distracting or overwhelming
  • Auditory fatigue — tiredness from processing more sound than you’re accustomed to

Most patients find their comfort level and sound quality improve substantially within 2–4 weeks. The adjustment period is faster and smoother when follow-up care is consistent, which is why we build it into every fitting.

Why Choose Excel Audiology for Your Hearing Aid Fitting?

Real Ear Measurement at Every Fitting

Objective verification, not guesswork

Audiologist-Led Care

Dr. Rickman is a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), not a hearing aid dispenser or retail salesperson

Independent Practice

We carry devices from all major brands and have no manufacturer affiliation or sales quota

Comprehensive Follow-Up

Included appointments at 2 weeks and 30 days, plus ongoing care

Two Locations

Wilmington and Southport, serving all of coastal North Carolina

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Frequently Asked Questions

A fitting appointment typically takes 60–90 minutes, including real ear measurement, physical fitting, and orientation. We don’t rush the process.

Yes — follow-up appointments are an important part of the process. We schedule them at 2 weeks and 30 days as standard, with more visits available as needed. Fine-tuning after real-world experience is normal and expected.

We offer a trial period for hearing aids, during which you can return or exchange devices if they’re not meeting your needs. Dr. Rickman will work with you to adjust programming, try alternative styles, or explore other options before any final decisions are made.

Yes. If you have existing hearing aids that aren’t performing well, we can evaluate them, perform real ear measurement, and reprogram them to your current audiogram. This often makes a significant improvement in performance even for devices that weren’t originally fit at our practice.

Real ear measurement uses a probe microphone to verify that your hearing aid is delivering the correct amplification directly in your ear canal — not just on a test bench. It accounts for the unique acoustics of your individual ear and is the most reliable way to ensure your devices are programmed correctly. See our full Real Ear Measurement page for details.