You will still visit your eye doctor annually even if you already wear eyeglasses. Because your eyes change as time passes. Like the rest of your body, your eyes aren’t fixed and neither are your ears. That’s why, even after you’ve invested in hearing aids, it’s essential to continue to have your ears checked just like you would with your eyes.
Many people, regrettably, skip those yearly appointments. Maybe a trip to their doctor is taking a back seat to enjoying life. Or perhaps, work has been especially hectic this year. Or maybe, you’ve just been so pleased with your hearing aids that you haven’t had a reason to go back in. That’s a good thing, right?
Scheduling a hearing test
Let’s take Daphne as an imaginary example. Daphne has been noticing some red flags related to her hearing for a while now. Her TV volume is getting louder and louder. She has a hard time following discussions at after-work happy hours in noisy restaurants. And so, she goes to have her hearing tested (because she’s smart and she takes care of herself).
Daphne makes sure to follow all of the instructions to manage her hearing impairment: she purchases hearing aids, which are then properly fitted and calibrated, and then she goes on with her life.
Problem solved? Well, maybe not completely. Going in for an exam allowed her to recognize her hearing loss early and that’s great. But, over time, follow-up care becomes even more significant for people with even a small amount of hearing loss. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by keeping regular appointments. But Daphne isn’t alone in avoiding check-ups, based on one study, just 33% of seniors using hearing aids also scheduled regular hearing services.
Why do you need check-ups after 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 has hearing aids. It’s essential to fine-tune the hearing aids to deal with those changes. Any hearing changes can be identified early with regular monitoring.
And that’s not even the only reason why it might be a smart idea to keep routine appointments once you get your hearing aids. Some of the most common reasons to ensure you make it to your next appointment include:
- Hearing aid calibration: Your hearing changes in slight ways, and while your overall hearing may remain stable, these small changes may require you to get regular hearing tests. Your hearing aid may become less and less reliable if you avoid this calibration.
- Your fit may change: It’s likely that there will be a shift in the way your hearing aids fit as your ears are always changing. Regular check-ups can help ensure that your hearing aids keep fitting the way they’re designed to.
- Hearing deterioration: Your hearing could continue to worsen even if you have hearing aids. Often, this degeneration of your hearing is very gradual and without regular screenings, you probably won’t even detect it. Hearing decline can frequently be slowed by correctly fine-tuning your hearing aids.
Dangers and roadblocks
The issue is, Daphne could, in her frustration, quit using her hearing aids altogether because they’re not functioning correctly. Using hearing aids helps slow down hearing loss over time. Your hearing will deteriorate faster if you quit using your hearing aids and you probably won’t even notice it.
In terms of achieving efficient performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, routine hearing exams are essential. Annual hearing tests or screenings can help you ensure your hearing aids are working as they should and that your hearing remains protected.