If you own glasses, you know you still need to visit your eye doctor every year, right? That’s because your eyes change over time. In fact, no part of your body is static, not your eyes and not, it turns out, your ears aren’t either. That’s the reason why even once you purchase hearing aids, you have to keep getting your ears checked just as you do with your eyes.
Unfortunately, many people miss those regular checkups. It’s easy to forget to go in to consult with your hearing professional because you’ve been too busy enjoying your life. Or perhaps lately, work has been stressful. Or maybe you’ve just been so satisfied with your hearing aids that you haven’t needed to get another appointment. That seems like it should be a good thing, right?
For the majority of individuals with hearing damage, even one reexamination appointment becomes almost more important over time. Yet lots of people neglect regular treatment. According to one survey, only 33% of seniors with hearing aids also used regular hearing services.
Once You Have Hearing Aids, is it Actually Necessary to go Back For Examinations?
Your hearing is dynamic. Over time it changes. When these changes happen, you need to modify your hearing aids to compensate. Problems can be discovered early and your hearing aids can be adjusted accordingly.
It may be a good idea to get regular hearing exams for other reasons also. Some of the most common reasons to assure you show up to your next appointment include:
- Hearing degeneration: Even if you use a hearing aid, your hearing could keep degenerating. If this degeneration is slow enough, you most likely won’t realize it’s occurring without the aid of a hearing evaluating. Appropriate alterations to your hearing aids can often slow hearing declines.
- Hearing aid calibration: While your general hearing health may continue to be stable, small changes in your hearing might produce the need for yearly adjustments of your hearing aid. Your hearing aids might gradually become less effective if you don’t get this type of calibration.
Besides monitoring changes in your hearing, it’s essential to periodically get a professional cleaning. We can clean all the small parts and keep your hearing in top notch conditions and make sure it’s working at peak performance.
The Danger of Not Following up With Regular Exams
If you get frustrated with your hearing aids, say because they don’t work the way you thought they would, you might just discontinue using them and that wouldn’t be good. Hearing aids make your overall health better and also, of course, makes your hearing stronger. If you discontinue wearing your hearing aids, not only can your hearing deteriorate faster, you might not recognize it immediately. Increased chance of hearing problems, along with cognitive decline, have been attached to hearing loss.
In terms of having your hearing aids performing at an optimal level, regular check ups are your best bet. Annual hearing exams or screenings can help you make sure your hearing aids are functioning as they should and that your hearing remains protected. So now is the time to schedule your hearing appointment.