Getting your hearing aids right is like finally finding the perfect pair of jeans. A perfect pair of jeans feel like they were made for you—the fit, the length, the style—and they’re so comfortable you don’t even notice.

But buying online versus trying in-store is different, right? What happens if you don't get the right fit, the awkward shape, the discomfort, not to mention the annoying return process. Then there’s feeling slightly disappointed because you need to pay a tailor to adjust that one tiny thing.

So, Can I buy hearing aids online? Will they be professionally fitted? What happens if they're not the right fit? Thankfully, this is where hearing aids and jeans differ.

Through the power of telemedicine, you can not only get hearing aids online but also those much-needed adjustments from an audiologist, in real-time.

But is the quality of care really the same as an in-person fitting? Is it reliable, effective, and most importantly—accurate?

According to Dr Zeng, chairman of The Hearing Journal Editorial Advisory Board, and director of the Center for Hearing at the University of California, Irvine—yes.

“If there is a silver lining from COVID-19, then it is telemedicine. I believe that telemedicine for hearing loss is not only here to stay, but also its advanced version, or automated care, is coming to provide safe, effective, and satisfactory performance and services for many people with hearing loss across the globe.” —Telemedicine for Hearing Loss, Fang-Gang Zeng, PhD, The Hearing Journal (2020)

As Dr Zeng explains, the original idea behind telemedicine was to help patients in remote or underserved areas access medical care and services. Now, hearing care professionals can offer virtual office visits, connect directly to your hearing aids, and help you with programming adjustments.

The Future Of Hearing Care

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the convenience of remote hearing care became a necessity. In our post-Covid world, these benefits aren’t temporary support for patients—they’re becoming the new norm.

The Benefits Of Remote Adjustment

• It’s convenient. Patients who have health, mobility, or even transport issues, can still receive care without going to a clinic. Patients can have follow-up appointments at home or work instead of traveling to and waiting at an office.

• It’s quick. For patients with fluctuating hearing loss who can’t make it to a clinic fast enough to get tested, they can still get their hearing aids adjusted and their fluctuations identified and treated by a professional.

• It’s contactless. During the Covid-19 pandemic, elderly patients who were unwilling or unable to visit a clinic could still receive treatment.

• It’s personal. Care providers can still have an excellent relationship with their patients instead of waiting until the next appointment. Patients who don’t want to be on video or have severe hearing loss might also prefer typing in chat, leading to a smoother and less anxious care experience.

It’s still ideal to have a comprehensive evaluation and adjustment from a hearing care professional. But remote care is a great way to support your health and enhance your hearing aid experience.

New To Buying Hearing Aids Online? Troubleshoot With Remote Unboxing

New hearing aids can be confusing, which is why we offer a complementary remote unboxing session with an audiologist for every Orka user.

When your hearing aids arrive, you’ll be invited to a remote unboxing session. The session will include:

• How to set up our Orka Health app
• How to correctly wear your hearing aids
• An in-app hearing test

You’ll need:

• A computer (preferably with a camera so your audiologist can demonstrate how to wear the hearing aids).

• A smartphone with enough storage for the Orka Health app (200MB).

• A stable internet connection.

• Your hearing aids.

By the end of the session, you’ll know how to adjust your hearing aids to suit your lifestyle. Your audiologist will email you a care card recapping your session and other useful educational materials.

How to Access Remote Care

Still have questions about hearing care? You can get the answers you need online. You only need your hearing aids and smartphone—our trusted hearing care professionals will do the rest.

1. Book a free 15-minute consultation on the Orka Health app to get an assessment of your condition from a hearing care professional.

2. Following your consultation, you still have unlimited follow-up calls within the 45-day warranty period, so you can call a hearing care professional at any time.

3. Your hearing care professional can tune your hearing aids in real-time online, answer any hearing care questions, and give advice on how to take best care of your hearing aids and hearing health.