You will still see your eye doctor annually even if you already wear eyeglasses. Because your eyes change over time. Similar to the rest of your body, your eyes aren’t fixed and neither are your ears. That’s why, just as it is with your eyes, it’s essential to keep having your ears checked even after you’ve purchased a quality pair of hearing aids.
Many people, regrettably, neglect those annual appointments. Perhaps 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 maybe you’ve simply 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 observing some red flags with her hearing for a while now. She keeps increasing the volume on her TV. When she goes out after work to a noisy restaurant, she has difficulty following conversations. And because she likes to take care of herself, and she’s intelligent, she schedules a hearing exam.
Daphne makes certain to follow all of the instructions to manage her hearing impairment: she purchases hearing aids, which are then correctly fitted and calibrated, and then she gets on with her life.
Issue solved? Well, maybe not completely. It’s fantastic that Daphne went in for a hearing screening and discovered her hearing issues early. But for most individuals with hearing impairment, even a minor one, follow-up care becomes almost more significant in the long run. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by going to routine appointments. However, one study revealed that only around 33% of seniors with hearing aids get routine check-ups so Daphne isn’t by herself.
If you already use hearing aids, why do you need check-ups?
Okay, remember our glasses metaphor? Just because Daphne uses hearing aids now doesn’t mean her hearing will become fixed and stop changing. It’s necessary to adjust the hearing aids to counter those changes. Routine testing helps keep track of any changes in hearing and detect issues early.
And there are other benefits to having regular hearing exams once you get hearing aids. Here are a few of the most important reasons:
- Hearing deterioration: Your hearing could continue to worsen even if you have hearing aids. Frequently, this degeneration of your hearing is quite slow and without regular examinations, you most likely won’t even recognize it. Hearing loss can often be slowed by appropriately adjusting your hearing aids.
- 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. Making certain your hearing aids continue to fit properly is a significant part of your regular exam.
- Hearing aid calibration: While your overall hearing health might remain stable, slight changes in your hearing may create the need for yearly calibration of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid may become less and less effective if you avoid this calibration.
Hazards and roadblocks
The issue is, Daphne could, in her frustration, stop using her hearing aids entirely because they’re not working correctly. Over time, hearing loss can be slowed by using hearing aids. Your hearing will decline faster if you quit using your hearing aids and you probably won’t even detect it.
If you want your hearing aids to keep working efficiently, regular check-ups are going to be your best option in terms of attaining that. Annual hearing exams or screenings can help you ensure your hearing aids are functioning as they should and that your hearing remains protected.