Hearing aids are life-changing tools that help millions of people reconnect with the world around them. However, the journey to better hearing is an ongoing process—and that’s where hearing aid follow-up appointments come in.
Regular check-ups with your specialist are crucial for keeping your hearing aids working as effectively as possible and ensuring you get the most out of them for years to come. Read on to learn why follow-up care is essential for both your health and the performance of your hearing aids, and what to expect during these appointments.
The Importance of Hearing Aid Follow-Up Appointments
Just like how a car needs regular maintenance and tune-ups, hearing aid follow-up appointments are crucial to ensure your devices work properly and continue to meet your hearing needs. In fact, studies show that those who attend follow-up appointments experience significantly fewer hearing aid problems than those who don’t1.
During follow-up appointments, your specialist will professionally clean your devices and make any adjustments to ensure your hearing aids continue to perform at their best. They will also address any potential issues or questions you may have, offering ultimate peace of mind and the long-term hearing health care you deserve.
Below, we provide a more in-depth look at why hearing aid follow-up appointments are so important:
Your Hearing Will Change Over Time
Follow-up appointments ensure any changes in your hearing are caught and addressed early on. Hearing is not a static thing; many different factors can cause it to change over time. In fact, the most common types of hearing loss develop gradually, so symptoms can easily go unnoticed until the condition becomes severe:
- Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis): As we age, the fragile hair cells in the inner ear responsible for sound processing naturally deteriorate. This leads to hearing loss that becomes more severe over time.
- Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL): Frequent exposure to loud sounds can have a cumulative impact on your hearing. Without proper hearing protection, too much loud noise can damage the hair cells in your inner ear, causing hearing loss over time.
If any changes in your hearing are detected during a follow-up appointment, your hearing care specialist will make adjustments to your devices to ensure you’re always getting the most effective hearing loss treatment possible.
Maintaining Optimal Hearing Aid Performance
After your initial fitting, your hearing isn’t the only thing that will change. Over time, daily wear and tear, sweat and/or humidity, and other debris buildup can affect the performance and fit of your hearing aids. Without routine maintenance by a hearing care specialist, these factors can cause damage and corrosion to the internal components of your hearing aids.
Your hearing aids are a valuable investment in your long-term hearing health and quality of life. Regular follow-up appointments protect this investment, so you can enjoy the joys of clear, uninterrupted hearing for years to come.
Ensuring All Day Comfort and Fit
You wear your hearing aids every day, so it’s important that they fit well and feel comfortable. That’s why regular follow-up appointments are so crucial. These appointments ensure your hearing aids continue to provide you with clear, comfortable hearing all day, every day.
Your hearing care specialist will check the fit of your devices to ensure they still fit snugly and comfortably in your ears. If you’re experiencing any discomfort, such as pressure or rubbing, they will identify the cause and find a solution.
What to Expect During Hearing Aid Follow-Up Visits
Your hearing aid follow-up visits are an important part of your hearing care journey, ensuring your devices continue to support your needs and lifestyle. These appointments are all about your comfort, your hearing experience, and your daily needs.
Here’s what you can expect during your follow-up visits, so you feel prepared and confident every step of the way.
Hearing Exam and Ear Cleaning
During a follow-up appointment, your hearing care specialist will examine and clean your ears to address any issues like earwax (cerumen) buildup, trauma, or infections. They will also conduct a hearing test to address any changes that may have occurred since your last visit.
Hearing Aid Cleaning and Maintenance
Over time, hearing aids can accumulate earwax and other debris that can reduce their effectiveness and even cause internal components to malfunction. During a follow-up appointment, your specialist will thoroughly clean your hearing aids and check for damage to ensure they remain in tip-top shape.
Custom Programming
As your lifestyle and hearing needs evolve, your hearing aids will likely need some adjustments. At a follow-up appointment, your hearing specialist can fine-tune your hearing aid settings and even create custom programs to suit your hearing needs in specific environments. This ensures you always hear your best, no matter where life takes you.
How Often Should You Have Hearing Aid Follow-Up Appointments?
Follow-up visits are designed to keep your hearing aids working their best so you can continue to hear your best every day. The frequency of your hearing aid follow-up appointments depends on your unique situation and needs. Factors like how long you’ve had them, changes in your hearing, or adjustments to your lifestyle can all play a role in your ongoing hearing loss care.
Below is a general guide to how often you should have hearing aid follow-up appointments:
Initial Fitting and Follow-Up
For new hearing aid wearers, the first follow-up appointment is typically scheduled a few weeks after the initial fitting. Much like breaking in a new pair of shoes, it may take some time for you to get fully comfortable with your new hearing aids.
During this appointment, your specialist will make sure your hearing aids fit comfortably and will make adjustments to ensure they are perfectly calibrated to your unique hearing needs.
Clean and Check Appointments
Clean and check appointments should be scheduled quarterly, or every 3-6 months. However, you may need more frequent appointments depending on your individual needs.
During a clean and check appointment, your hearing specialist will clean and examine both your ears and your hearing aids. This helps identify any potential issues that may need extra attention, such as earwax buildup or damage to your hearing aids.
Annual Hearing Tests
Having a hearing test at least once a year is crucial for anyone who has been diagnosed with hearing loss or uses hearing aids. Regular hearing check-ups can catch even the smallest changes in your hearing or any new issues early on.
An annual hearing exam includes:
- Cleaning your hearing aids to remove any earwax, debris, or moisture
- Troubleshooting any hearing aid issues or addressing damage
- Getting answers to questions or concerns you may have
At an annual hearing exam, your specialist will conduct a comprehensive hearing test and document any changes. If your hearing has changed, they will provide solutions that ensure your hearing loss treatment continues to suit your unique needs.
Now Servicing All Hearing Aid Brands at NewSound Hearing Centers in Richmondville
Regular follow-up care for your hearing aids is essential to maintain optimal sound quality, comfort, and hearing health. If you’re in need of professional hearing aid follow-up care in Richmondville, contact our team at NewSound Hearing Centers today. We are proud to offer services on all hearing aid brands no matter where you bought them.
References
- Bennett, R. J., Kosovich, E., Cohen, S., Lo, C., Logan, K., Olaithe, M., & Eikelboom, R. (2021). Hearing aid Review Appointments: Attendance and effectiveness. American Journal of Audiology, 30(4), 1058–1066. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_aja-21-00004