The majority of hearing loss is slight initially, and you might not even recognize a change. In fact, it is usually friends and family who tip off somebody to their hearing problem. While hearing tests are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this essential checkup, unlike regular eye exams that are frequently prioritized.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Assessment
There are lots of everyday situations where you might not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others are.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a busy restaurant make it more difficult to hear and understand conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home leading to disagreements?
These type of situations can happen on a day-to-day basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Checked On A Regular Basis
According to the standards supplied by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are advised to have a hearing screening every 10 years before reaching the age of 50. For adults aged 50 and above, it is recommended to have a hearing screening every 3 years.
1. Genetic makeup
If other members of your family have hearing issues, this is a very good reason to schedule a hearing test with a hearing specialist.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By knowing your hearing ability in each ear, you can determine potential problems or areas for improvement.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that may indicate further evaluations or treatments.
3. Helps Measure Future Changes
Each new test will compare new information with previous assessments. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you don’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
Advanced diagnostic tools now keep track of fluctuations and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and address problems, like excessive earwax accumulation or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Pinpoint Medical Conditions
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (connected to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Treating the root medical conditions that are causing it could potentially reduce hearing loss.
6. Stop Further Damage
If a patient does not receive treatment, they might experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social situations, leading to enhanced seclusion and worsening of their depression. Seniors with hearing problems can have increased accidents when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that mean danger. Moreover, neglected hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You might have wondered if you’re dealing with some degree of hearing loss. You now have the information you require, including the understanding that hearing aids can have a positive impact on numerous facets of your life, improving not only your ability to hear, but also your connections with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
Once your hearing loss is treated with the appropriate hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear more effectively during discussions or work meetings, or simply listen to your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Reach out to us to set up a hearing evaluation or if you’re concerned that you may be experiencing hearing troubles.