You will still see your eye doctor annually even if you already use eyeglasses. Because, as time goes by, your eyes change. Nothing in your body is fixed, not your eyes and not, it turns out, your ears either. That’s why, much like your eyes, it’s essential to keep getting your ears tested even after you’ve invested in a nice pair of hearing aids.
Regrettably, many people skip those routine check-ups. Perhaps they’ve been too occupied enjoying their lives to get back in to see the doctor. Or perhaps, work has been particularly stressful this year. Or perhaps, you’ve just been so happy with your hearing aids that you haven’t had a reason to go back in. That should be a good thing, right?
Scheduling a hearing exam
Let’s use Daphne as our fictional stand-in. For quite a while, Daphne has noted some warning signs with her hearing. She keeps increasing the volume on her TV. She has problems following conversations at after-work happy hours in noisy restaurants. And because she likes to take care of herself, and she’s intelligent, she schedules a hearing assessment.
Daphne makes certain to follow all of the steps to manage her hearing impairment: she gets fitted for new hearing aids and has them properly calibrated, and then gets back to her normal routine.
Problem solved? Well, yes and no. It’s fantastic that Daphne went in for a hearing test and caught her hearing problems early. But, over time, follow-up care becomes almost more important for individuals with even minor hearing loss. Keeping up on regular appointments would be a smart idea for Daphne. But Daphne isn’t alone in bypassing check-ups, based on one survey, only 33% of seniors with hearing aids also maintained regular hearing services.
Why do you need check-ups after you have 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 important to fine-tune the hearing aids to counter those changes. Any hearing changes can be discovered early with routine monitoring.
And there are other reasons for having regular hearing assessments after you get hearing aids. Here are some of the most important reasons:
- Hearing aid calibration: While your general hearing health might remain stable, slight changes in your hearing may produce the need for annual calibration of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid may become less and less effective if you avoid this calibration.
- Hearing deterioration: Even with a hearing aid, your hearing could continue to deteriorate. If this deterioration is slow enough, you most likely won’t realize it’s happening without the aid of a hearing test. Correct alterations to your hearing aids can often slow hearing declines.
- Your fit may change: Because your hearing is always changing, it’s quite possible that the way your hearing aids fit around and in your ears will change. Making sure your hearing aids continue to fit properly is a significant part of your regular exam.
Hazards and roadblocks
The issue is, Daphne may, in her frustration, stop using her hearing aids altogether because they’re not working properly. Over time, hearing loss can be slowed by using hearing aids. If you quit using them, not only can your hearing deteriorate faster, you might not detect it right away.
As far as attaining optimal performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, routine hearing exams are essential. Yearly hearing exams or screenings can help you be sure your hearing aids are working as they should and that your hearing stays protected.
