Even if you use glasses (the kind you put on your face, not the kind you fill with liquid), you still see your eye doctor annually, right? Because your eyes change as time passes. Similar to the rest of your body, your eyes aren’t static and neither are your ears. That’s why, even after you’ve invested in hearing aids, it’s important to continue to get your ears checked just like you would with your eyes.
Many individuals, unfortunately, neglect those yearly appointments. Maybe a trip to their doctor is taking a back seat to enjoying life. Or, it could be that your job has been stressful lately. Or perhaps you’ve simply decided to not go back in because you’re so pleased with your hearing aids. It seems like that would be good, right?
Getting your hearing examined
Let’s take Daphne as an imaginary example. Daphne has been observing some red flags with her hearing for some time now. Her TV volume continues to get louder. She has a hard time following conversations at after-work happy hours in noisy restaurants. And so, she goes to get her hearing tested (because she’s intelligent and she takes care of herself).
Daphne makes certain to follow all of the instructions to manage her hearing impairment: she gets fitted for new hearing aids and has them properly calibrated, and then gets back to her regular routine.
Issue solved? Well, maybe not completely. It’s fantastic that Daphne went in for a hearing test and caught her hearing problems early. But for most individuals with hearing loss, even a minor one, follow-up care becomes even more vital in the long run. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by maintaining regular appointments. However, one study revealed that only around 33% of seniors with hearing aids get regular check-ups so Daphne isn’t alone.
Why do you need hearing exams once you get hearing aids?
Remember when we used the glasses metaphor earlier? Daphne’s hearing won’t become static and stop changing just because she uses hearing aids. It’s important to adjust the hearing aids to counter those changes. Any hearing changes can be recognized early with periodic monitoring.
And that’s not even the only reason why it may be a good idea to keep routine appointments once you get your hearing aids. Some of the most common reasons to ensure you get to your next appointment include:
- Your fit may change: It’s possible that there will be a change in the way your hearing aids fit as your ears are always changing. Routine hearing tests can help guarantee that your hearing aids keep fitting the way they’re supposed to.
- Hearing aid calibration: While your overall hearing health may continue to be stable, slight changes in your hearing might produce the need for annual calibration of your hearing aid. Without this calibration, your hearing aids may slowly become less and less useful.
- Hearing deterioration: Even with a hearing aid, your hearing could continue to deteriorate. Frequently, this degeneration of your hearing is very slow and without regular examinations, you probably won’t even notice it. Correct alterations to your hearing aids can frequently slow hearing declines.
Hazards and roadblocks
The issue is, Daphne could, in her frustration, stop using her hearing aids entirely because they’re not functioning correctly. Using hearing aids helps slow hearing loss over time. Your hearing will deteriorate faster if you stop using your hearing aids and you probably won’t even notice it.
If you want your hearing aids to continue working efficiently, regular exams are going to be your best bet in terms of attaining that. Yearly hearing assessments or screenings can help you make sure your hearing aids are functioning as they should and that your hearing stays protected.