A new year is a useful prompt for health commitments that are easy to delay. Hearing health has a particular tendency to get pushed to next year, then the year after. Here are five specific, actionable resolutions for 2026.

1. Get Your Baseline Hearing Test

If you don’t have a recent audiogram on file, schedule one in January. It takes about an hour, it’s painless, and it gives you — and your provider — a data point to compare against in future years. Knowing where you stand is the precondition for everything else.

2. Use Your Hearing Aids Consistently

If you have hearing aids sitting in a drawer, make 2026 the year you wear them every day. Consistent use drives adaptation, and adaptation drives satisfaction. The data on hearing aid users shows that outcome satisfaction correlates almost entirely with consistent daily use.

3. Protect Your Hearing at Loud Events

Carry hearing protection with you to events where you’ll encounter sustained loud noise — concerts, sporting events, fireworks displays. Foam plugs fit in a pocket and cost cents per use. High-fidelity musician’s plugs offer better sound quality for around $20-30.

4. Schedule a Follow-Up if Your Aids Feel Off

If your hearing aids feel less effective than they used to, something has likely changed — either your hearing or your devices’ performance. Don’t wait. Schedule an adjustment. This is what follow-up care is for.

5. Talk to Your Family About Hearing

Start the conversation about hearing health with family members who may be struggling. The person with the problem is often the last one to acknowledge it — a gentle, supportive conversation from someone they trust can be what finally prompts action.

Embrace Hearing is scheduling January appointments now. Start 2026 with a clear picture of your hearing health.