Your 1-Year Hearing Aid Check-Up: What to Expect at Your Annual Hearing Test
If you’ve been wearing your hearing aids for about a year, it’s time for an important part of your ongoing hearing treatment plan: your annual hearing assessment.
Even when your hearing feels the same, it can change gradually over time. Your annual appointment gives your clinician an opportunity to check your current hearing, make sure your hearing aids are still meeting your needs, and address any changes you may have noticed since your last visit. This appointment is also a chance to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned, inspected, and fine-tuned based on your updated hearing results.
In this article, we’ll explain what happens during your annual hearing aid appointment, why updating your hearing test matters, what your clinician checks on your hearing aids, and how your results can help keep your devices working for you.
Key Takeaways
- Your hearing can change gradually, even if you haven’t noticed a difference.
- Changes in your health can affect your hearing, your clinician will update your medical history.
- An annual hearing assessment helps your clinician compare your current hearing with your previous results.
- Your hearing aids will be professionally cleaned and inspected during your appointment.
- Your clinician can check whether your hearing aids are performing properly and make adjustments if needed.
- Updated hearing test results allow your hearing aids to be fine-tuned to your current hearing needs.
- Your annual appointment is an important part of maintaining your hearing health and getting the most from your hearing aids.
Why is an Annual Hearing Test Important?
When you first received your hearing aids, your devices were programmed based on your hearing test results at that time. A year later, your hearing may not be exactly the same.
Changes in hearing can happen gradually, which means you may not notice them from day to day. You might simply find that conversations are becoming a little more difficult, the television seems louder than before, you are adjusting the volume on your hearing aids more often or you are relying more heavily on your hearing aids in certain environments.
An updated hearing assessment gives your clinician a current picture of your hearing. By comparing your new results with your previous audiogram, they can identify whether your hearing has remained stable or changed over time.
Your annual appointment is also an opportunity to make sure your hearing aids are still providing the right level of support and that they are working properly.
What Happens During Your Annual Hearing Aid Appointment?
Your annual appointment is more than just a hearing test. It combines an updated assessment of your hearing with a check-up for your hearing aids. While the exact appointment can vary depending on your needs, your clinician will typically:
- Review any changes or concerns you’ve noticed
- Reassess your hearing
- Clean and inspect your hearing aids
- Check your devices for proper performance
- Fine-tune your hearing aids based on your updated results
The goal is simple: to make sure your hearing and your hearing aids are working together as well as possible.
Your Hearing Will Be Reassessed
The first part of your appointment is an updated hearing assessment. Your clinician will ask whether you’ve noticed any changes in your hearing or any differences in how your hearing aids have been performing. They may ask about specific situations that have become more challenging, such as restaurants, group conversations, or watching television.
They will also ask if you have had any new health diagnoses in the past year. Underlying medical conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart concerns can cause changes in hearing. You’ll then complete hearing testing to determine your current hearing levels. Depending on your appointment and hearing needs, this may include:
- An examination of your ears
- Pure-tone hearing testing
- Speech testing
- Other assessments based on your individual concerns
Your results will be compared with your previous hearing test so your clinician can identify any changes.
Your Hearing Aids Will Be Professionally Cleaned and Inspected
Your hearing aids are exposed to moisture, earwax, skin oils, dust, and everyday debris every time you wear them. Even when you clean them regularly at home, professional cleaning and inspection can help keep them performing properly.
During your annual appointment, your clinician will examine your hearing aids and clean the components as needed. They’ll also look for signs of wear or issues that could affect performance. This is a good opportunity to mention anything you’ve noticed, even if it seems minor. For example:
- Your hearing aids don’t seem as loud as they used to
- One device seems to work better than the other
- You’re experiencing feedback or whistling
- The battery doesn’t seem to last as long
- Your hearing aids aren’t holding a charge
- Streaming or Bluetooth isn’t working properly
- Your devices feel uncomfortable
- You are having difficulty keeping them in place
- You have noticed the hearing aid sound quality has changed
- You have noticed signs of wear and tear on the hearing aid such as differences in color on the hearing aid casing.
Small changes can sometimes be an early sign that your hearing aids need cleaning, servicing, or adjustment.
Your Hearing Aids Will Be Checked for Performance
Your clinician will also evaluate how your hearing aids are performing. This includes making sure your devices are functioning properly and providing appropriate amplification based on your current hearing needs. If your hearing has changed since your last assessment, your existing settings may no longer be providing the ideal amount of amplification. Your clinician can use your updated hearing test results to determine whether your hearing aids need to be adjusted.
Your Hearing Aids Can Be Fine-Tuned
One of the most important parts of your annual appointment is making sure your hearing aids are programmed appropriately for your current hearing. Your hearing aids were originally programmed based on your hearing when you first received them. If your hearing has changed, your clinician can make adjustments to bring your settings in line with your updated results.
Fine-tuning may also address changes you’ve noticed in your everyday listening experience. For example, you might tell your clinician that:
- Speech isn’t as clear in restaurants
- Voices sound too loud or too soft
- You’re having more difficulty following group conversations
- You are experiencing more listening fatigue
- Certain sounds have become uncomfortable
- You would like to make changes to your streaming or listening programs
Your clinician can use this information along with your hearing test results to make adjustments that are specific to you.
Ready for Your Annual Hearing Assessment?
If it’s been about a year since your last hearing test, book an appointment with your local Hearing Solutions clinic. Your clinician can update your hearing, check your hearing aids, and make any adjustments needed to keep them working well for you.
What if My Hearing Has Changed?
A change in your hearing doesn’t necessarily mean you need new hearing aids.
In many cases, your existing devices can be adjusted to accommodate changes in your hearing. Your clinician will look at your updated results, evaluate your current hearing aids, and determine whether your devices can continue to meet your needs.
If your hearing has changed significantly or your current hearing aids are no longer providing enough support, your clinician will explain your options. The important thing is that you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Your annual appointment is designed to give you a clear picture of where your hearing stands and what, if anything, needs to change.
How Often Should You Have Your Hearing Tested?
For people who wear hearing aids, an annual hearing assessment is an important part of ongoing hearing care. Your hearing can change gradually, and regular testing gives your clinician an opportunity to monitor those changes over time. Annual appointments also provide a chance to check your hearing aids, address any concerns, and make adjustments before small issues become bigger problems.
Your clinician may recommend more frequent appointments if you have specific hearing concerns or if your hearing or hearing aids require closer monitoring. Read more about why we suggest annual hearing tests.
Have You Noticed a Change in Your Hearing?
Whether it’s been a year since your last assessment or you’ve noticed changes sooner, your clinician can check your hearing and hearing aids to see if any adjustments are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an annual hearing test if my hearing feels the same?
Yes. Hearing changes can happen gradually, and you may not notice them right away. An annual assessment gives your clinician a chance to compare your current hearing with your previous results and make sure your hearing aids are still appropriately programmed.
Will my hearing aids be cleaned during my annual appointment?
Yes. Your hearing aids will be professionally cleaned and inspected as part of your annual appointment. Your clinician will also check the devices for signs of wear or issues that could affect their performance.
Will my hearing aids be adjusted during my appointment?
If your updated hearing test or your experience with your hearing aids indicates that adjustments are needed, your clinician can fine-tune your devices to better match your current hearing needs.
What should I bring to my annual hearing aid appointment?
Bring the hearing aids you currently wear. If you use a hearing aid charger, accessories, or other devices that you regularly use with your hearing aids, it can also be helpful to bring them if you’re experiencing any issues. Most importantly, come prepared to tell your clinician about any changes you’ve noticed, even if they seem minor.
What happens if my hearing has gotten worse?
Your clinician will review your updated hearing results and compare them with your previous audiogram. Depending on the degree of change, your existing hearing aids may simply need to be reprogrammed. If your current devices can no longer provide the support you need, your clinician will explain what other options may be available.
Next Steps
Your hearing aids are designed to support you every day, and your annual appointment is an important part of keeping them working at their best. By updating your hearing assessment, checking your devices, and fine-tuning your settings when needed, your clinician can help make sure your hearing aids continue to match your current hearing needs.
If you’re approaching your one-year mark with your hearing aids, don’t wait until you notice a problem. Book your annual hearing assessment and give your hearing and hearing aids the check-in they deserve.
