You will still visit your eye doctor yearly even if you already wear eyeglasses. Because, over time, your eyes change. Like 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 continue to get your ears assessed just like you would with your eyes.
Regrettably, many individuals skip those routine check-ups. Maybe they’ve been too busy enjoying their lives to get back in to see your physician. Or maybe, work has been especially difficult this year. Or perhaps you’ve simply decided not to go back in because you’re so satisfied with your hearing aids. That’s a good thing, right?
Scheduling a hearing test
Let’s take Daphne as a fictional example. For quite a while, Daphne has detected some symptoms connected to her hearing. She keeps turning the TV up. She has problems following discussions at after-work happy hours in loud restaurants. And so, she goes to have her hearing assessed (because she’s smart and she takes care of herself).
After getting her hearing assessed, Daphne does everything she’s supposed to: she gets fitted for new hearing aids and has them precisely calibrated, and then goes back to her regular routine.
Issue solved? Well, maybe not completely. It’s great that Daphne went in for a hearing screening and discovered her hearing problems early. But for most people with hearing loss, even a small one, follow-up care becomes even more important in the long run. Keeping up on regular appointments would be a smart plan for Daphne. However, one study found that only around 33% of seniors with hearing aids get routine check-ups so Daphne isn’t alone.
If you already use hearing aids, why do you need regular hearing exams?
Remember when we used the glasses metaphor earlier? Daphne’s hearing won’t become fixed and stop changing just because she uses hearing aids. It’s essential to fine-tune the hearing aids to deal with those changes. Any hearing changes can be discovered early with regular monitoring.
And that’s not even the only reason why it might be a good idea to keep regular appointments after you have your hearing aids. Here are a few of the most significant reasons:
- Hearing deterioration: Your hearing may continue to worsen even if you have hearing aids. If this degeneration is slow enough, you probably won’t notice it’s happening without the aid of a hearing screening. Hearing loss can frequently be slowed by correctly fine-tuning your hearing aids.
- Your fit may change: It’s likely that there will be a shift in how your hearing aids fit as your ears are always changing. Making certain your hearing aids continue to fit well is a big part of your regular exam.
- Hearing aid calibration: While your general hearing health may continue to be stable, slight changes in your hearing might create the need for annual calibration of your hearing aid. Without this calibration, your hearing aids could slowly become less and less effective.
Dangers and hurdles
The problem is, Daphne may, in her frustration, quit using her hearing aids entirely because they’re not working properly. Wearing hearing aids helps slow hearing loss over time. If you quit wearing them, not only can your hearing deteriorate faster, you might not detect it right away.
In terms of attaining efficient performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, regular hearing assessments are essential. Safeguard your hearing and ensure your hearing aids are effectively working by getting routine screenings.