You will still see your eye doctor annually even if you already use eyeglasses. 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 purchased hearing aids, it’s essential to consistently have your ears assessed just like you would with your eyes.
Regrettably, many people miss those regular check-ups. Maybe they’ve been too occupied enjoying their lives to get back in to see your physician. Or, it may be that your job has been difficult lately. Or perhaps you’ve just decided not to go back in because you’re so happy with your hearing aids. That’s a good thing, right?
Getting your hearing examined
Let’s take Daphne as a fictional example. Daphne has been detecting some red flags related to her hearing for a while now. Her TV volume continues to get louder. When she goes out after work to a noisy restaurant, she has difficulty following discussions. And because she likes to take care of herself, and she’s smart, she schedules a hearing test.
Daphne makes certain to follow all of the steps to manage her hearing impairment: she buys hearing aids, which are then properly fitted and calibrated, and then she gets on with her life.
Problem solved? Well, yes and no. It’s great that Daphne went in for a hearing exam and caught her hearing issues early. But, in the long run, follow-up care becomes even more important for individuals with even minor hearing loss. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by going to routine appointments. However, one study revealed that only about 33% of seniors with hearing aids get regular check-ups so Daphne isn’t by herself.
Why do you need check-ups after you get hearing aids?
Alright, remember our glasses metaphor? Daphne’s hearing won’t become fixed and stop changing just because she has hearing aids. Her hearing aids will need to be fine-tuned to account for those changes. Regular testing helps track any changes in hearing and catch issues early.
And that isn’t even the only reason why it may be a smart idea to keep regular appointments once you get your hearing aids. Here are some of the most significant reasons:
- Hearing aid calibration: Your hearing changes in small ways, and while your overall hearing may remain stable, these small changes may require you to get regular hearing examinations. Without this calibration, your hearing aids could slowly become less and less effective.
- Hearing deterioration: Even with a hearing aid, your hearing may keep deteriorating. If this degeneration is slow enough, you probably won’t recognize it’s happening without the assistance of a hearing test. Hearing decline can often be slowed by properly fine-tuning your hearing aids.
- Your fit may change: Because your ears are always changing, it’s entirely possible that how your hearing aids fit around and in your ears will shift. Routine hearing tests can help ensure that your hearing aids keep fitting the way they’re supposed to.
Dangers and hurdles
The main concern here is that eventually, the hearing aids Daphne is wearing will quit working the way they’re intended to, so she’ll get frustrated with them and stop using them entirely. Over time, hearing loss can be slowed by wearing hearing aids. Your hearing will decline faster if you stop wearing your hearing aids and you probably won’t even notice it.
If you want your hearing aids to keep working at an optimal level, routine check-ups are going to be your best option in terms of achieving that. Annual hearing tests or screenings can help you ensure your hearing aids are functioning as they should and that your hearing remains protected.