A method for programming a hearing assistance device includes entering an audiogram into the memory of a mobile computing device, wherein the audiogram indicates a hearing loss profile of a user of the hearing assistance device. Based on the audiogram, the mobile computing device determines a preferred hearing correction algorithm for the user and transfers the preferred algorithm to the memory of the hearing assistance device, which also contains one or more preloaded hearing correction algorithms. During an initial setup procedure, the user listens to sounds amplified by the hearing assistance device while switching between the preferred algorithm and the preloaded algorithms, and selects the algorithm that sounds best for continued use in the hearing assistance device.