Even if you have glasses (the kind you put on your face, not the kind you fill with liquid), you still visit your eye doctor annually, right? 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 invested in hearing aids, it’s imperative to consistently get your ears tested much like you would with your eyes.
Many individuals, regrettably, miss those annual appointments. Maybe they’ve been too occupied enjoying their lives to get back in to see your physician. Or maybe, work has been especially stressful this year. Or perhaps, you’ve just been so happy with your hearing aids that you haven’t felt the need to go back in. It seems like that would be good, right?
Scheduling a hearing test
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 is getting louder and louder. She has problems understanding conversations at after-work happy hours in noisy restaurants. And because she likes to take care of herself, and she’s smart, she schedules a hearing assessment.
After having her hearing checked, Daphne does everything she is supposed to: she purchases hearing aids, which are then precisely fitted and calibrated, and then she goes on with her life.
Problem solved? Well, not quite. It’s fantastic that Daphne went in for a hearing test and caught her hearing problems early. But for most people with hearing impairment, even a small one, follow-up care becomes even more significant in the long run. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by keeping regular appointments. But Daphne’s not alone in neglected check-ups, based on one study, only 33% of senior citizens with hearing aids also maintained routine hearing services.
If you already have hearing aids, why do you need regular hearing exams?
Alright, remember our glasses metaphor? Just because Daphne has hearing aids now doesn’t mean her hearing will become fixed and stop changing. It’s important to adjust the hearing aids to counter those changes. Any hearing changes can be discovered early with routine monitoring.
And that isn’t even the only reason why it might be a good idea to keep routine appointments once you get your hearing aids. Here are a few of the most significant reasons:
- 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. Regular hearing tests can help guarantee that your hearing aids keep fitting the way they’re supposed to.
- Hearing deterioration: Your hearing could continue to worsen even if you use hearing aids. If this deterioration is slow enough, you most likely won’t notice it’s happening without the assistance of a hearing exam. Hearing loss can frequently be slowed by appropriately adjusting your hearing aids.
- Hearing aid calibration: While your general hearing health may continue to be stable, small 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 skip this calibration.
Dangers and hurdles
The issue is, Daphne may, in her frustration, stop using her hearing aids entirely because they’re not working correctly. Wearing hearing aids helps slow hearing loss over time. If you quit using them, not only can your hearing deteriorate faster, you may not notice it right away.
If you want your hearing aids to continue working efficiently, regular exams are going to be your best bet in terms of attaining that. Protect your hearing and ensure your hearing aids are properly working by getting routine screenings.