Most hearing loss is subtle initially, and you might not even recognize a change. In fact, it is normally family and friends who alert someone to their hearing issue. Although children are regularly tested, many adults do not think about scheduling a hearing exam like they would for their vision.
Clues You May Need a Hearing Test
There are lots of everyday situations where you may not be hearing everything and definitely not hearing what others are.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Are you noticing yourself turning up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a busy restaurant make it more difficult to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disputes?
Such incidents can occur regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal connections.
Important Benefits of Scheduling Regular Hearing Exams
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidelines state that adults should get a hearing screening every 10 years up until age 50, and adults over the age of 50 should have one every 3 years.
1. Family History
If your family members are dealing with hearing difficulties, it is a good plan to schedule a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
Once you know your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any issues.
There are sounds you might not be hearing and impairments that might indicate further evaluations or treatments.
3. Helps Gauge Future Changes
Every new test will compare new data with previous tests. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you don’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
New tests track changes and how rapidly they are happening, which can help diagnose and manage issues early, such as a buildup of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Identify Health Issues
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Treating the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially reduce hearing loss.
6. Stop Further Damage
When a patient is without treatment, they can become depressed and fear social situations, encouraging solitude and further depression. Seniors who have hearing problems can have increased injuries when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that mean danger. Additionally, research has shown a link between neglected hearing loss and an elevated danger of developing cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You might have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree of hearing impairment. You now have the information you need, including the understanding that hearing aids can have a positive effect on multiple facets of your life, improving not only your ability to hear, but also your connections with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
After getting the right hearing aids to manage your hearing loss, you will experience enhanced hearing ability in conversations, work meetings, and while enjoying the sounds of your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Contact us if you want to schedule a hearing exam or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.