Even if you use glasses (the kind you put on your face, not the kind you fill with liquid), you still visit your eye doctor yearly, right? Because, as time passes, your eyes change. Nothing in your body is static, not your eyes and not, it turns out, your ears either. That’s why, even after you’ve purchased hearing aids, it’s important to continue to have your ears tested just like you would with your eyes.
Many people, regrettably, neglect those yearly appointments. Maybe a trip to their doctor is taking a back seat to enjoying life. Or, it could be that your job has been hectic lately. Or perhaps, you’ve just been so satisfied with your hearing aids that you haven’t felt the need to go back in. It seems like that would be good, right?
Getting your hearing tested
Let’s use Daphne as our fictional stand-in. For quite a while, Daphne has noted some symptoms with her hearing. She keeps turning the TV up. When she goes out after work to a noisy restaurant, she has a hard time following discussions. And so, she goes to have her hearing checked (because she’s intelligent and she takes care of herself).
Daphne makes sure to follow all of the instructions to manage her hearing impairment: she gets fitted for new hearing aids and has them properly calibrated, and then gets back to her regular routine.
Problem solved? Well, not quite. Going in for a screening allowed her to catch her hearing loss early and that’s excellent. But for most people with hearing impairment, even a minor one, follow-up care becomes even more important in the long run. Daphne would be doing herself a favor by going to regular appointments. However, one study found that only about 33% of seniors with hearing aids get routine check-ups so Daphne isn’t alone.
Why do you need hearing exams once you have hearing aids?
Remember when we used the glasses metaphor earlier? Just because Daphne uses hearing aids now doesn’t mean her hearing will become static and stop changing. It’s important to adjust the hearing aids to counter those changes. Routine testing helps keep track of any changes in hearing and catch problems early.
And there are other reasons for having regular hearing exams after you get hearing aids. Some of the most prevailing reasons to make sure you make it to your next appointment include:
- Hearing degeneration: Your hearing may continue to deteriorate even if you use hearing aids. If this degeneration is slow enough, you most likely won’t notice it’s happening without the aid of a hearing exam. Proper adjustments to your hearing aids can often slow hearing declines.
- Your fit may change: It’s possible that there will be a change 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 check-ups.
- Hearing aid calibration: Your hearing changes in slight ways, and while your overall hearing may remain consistent, these small changes could require you to get regular hearing assessments. Without this calibration, your hearing aids may slowly become less and less effective.
Dangers and roadblocks
The problem is, Daphne could, in her frustration, quit using her hearing aids altogether because they’re not working properly. Wearing hearing aids helps slow hearing loss over time. Your hearing will decline faster if you quit using your hearing aids and you probably won’t even notice it.
When it comes to achieving efficient performance of your hearing aids, and optimal hearing, routine hearing assessments are vital. Annual hearing exams or screenings can help you ensure your hearing aids are working as they should and that your hearing remains protected.
