Most hearing loss is subtle initially, and you might not even notice a change. Actually, it is usually friends and family who alert someone to their hearing issue. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to overlook this crucial checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Exam
Throughout the day, there are many occasions when you could miss certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat what they said?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to hear everybody at a loud restaurant?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home leading to disputes?
These kinds of scenarios can happen on a daily basis and continue to affect relationships.
Important Advantages of Scheduling Routine Hearing Assessments
According to the guidelines provided 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 advised to have a hearing screening every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing issues, this is an excellent reason to set up a hearing test with a hearing professional.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can identify potential issues or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing subtle hearing difficulties that could signal the need for additional assessments or interventions.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new data with past assessments. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Advanced diagnostic tools now monitor fluctuations and their rate of progression, enabling healthcare professionals to recognize and address problems, such as 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 including 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 doesn’t get treatment, they can become depressed and fear social settings, inviting solitude and more depression. Elderly individuals experiencing hearing troubles may be at an increased danger of sustaining injuries due to their inability to hear warning signals including car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Moreover, untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You might have wondered if you’re experiencing some amount of hearing loss. You now have the information you need, including the awareness that hearing aids can have a positive effect on numerous areas of your life, enhancing not only your ability to hear, but also your relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
After getting the right hearing aids to address your hearing loss, you will experience improved listening ability in conversations, work meetings, and while enjoying the sounds of your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Reach out to us to arrange a hearing assessment or if you’re worried that you might be experiencing hearing troubles.