Even if you use glasses (the type you put on your face, not the kind you drink out of), you still visit your eye doctor once a year, right? Because, over time, your eyes change. Similar to the rest of your body, your eyes aren’t static and neither are your ears. That’s why, just as it is with your eyes, it’s crucial to keep getting your ears assessed even after you’ve invested in a quality pair of hearing aids.
Unfortunately, many individuals miss those routine check-ups. Maybe they’ve been too occupied enjoying their lives to get back in to see your physician. Or, it could be that your job has been difficult lately. Or maybe you’ve just decided to not go back in because you’re so happy with your hearing aids. It seems like that would be good, right?
Getting your hearing checked
Let’s take Daphne as a fictional example. Daphne has been detecting some red flags with her hearing for some time now. Her TV volume is getting louder and louder. She has problems following discussions at after-work happy hours in loud restaurants. And so, she goes to get her hearing checked (because she’s intelligent and she takes care of herself).
Daphne makes certain to follow all of the steps to manage her hearing impairment: she buys hearing aids, which are then correctly fitted and calibrated, and then she gets on with her life.
Issue solved? Well, maybe not entirely. Going in for a screening allowed her to catch her hearing loss early and that’s excellent. But for most individuals with hearing impairment, even a minor one, follow-up care becomes almost more vital in the long run. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by keeping regular appointments. However, one study revealed that only around 33% of senior citizens with hearing aids get routine check-ups so Daphne isn’t by herself.
If you already use hearing aids, why do you need regular hearing exams?
Okay, remember our glasses metaphor? Daphne’s hearing won’t become static and stop changing just because she uses hearing aids. Her hearing aids will have to be adjusted to counter those changes. Any hearing changes can be discovered early with periodic monitoring.
And that isn’t even the only reason why it may be a good idea to keep routine appointments after you get your hearing aids. Some of the most common reasons to make sure you get to your next appointment include:
- 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 big part of your regular exam.
- Hearing degeneration: Your hearing could continue to worsen even if you use hearing aids. If this degeneration is slow enough, you probably won’t notice it’s happening without the assistance of a hearing exam. Hearing loss can frequently be slowed by correctly adjusting your hearing aids.
- Hearing aid calibration: Your hearing changes in slight ways, and while your overall hearing may remain consistent, these slight changes could require you to get regular hearing tests. Without this calibration, your hearing aids could slowly become less and less useful.
Hazards and roadblocks
The ultimate concern here is that eventually, the hearing aids Daphne is wearing will stop working the way they’re supposed to, so she’ll get frustrated with them and stop using them altogether. Over time, hearing loss can be slowed by wearing hearing aids. Your hearing will deteriorate faster if you stop wearing your hearing aids and you probably won’t even notice it.
In terms of attaining optimal performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, routine hearing assessments are essential. Protect your hearing and make sure your hearing aids are properly working by having regular screenings.