Hearing loss frequently begins with slight, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to overlook. Actually, it is usually friends and family who alert somebody to their hearing issue. Although children are regularly assessed, many adults do not think about scheduling a hearing test like they would for their vision.
Clues You Might Need a Hearing Exam
There are a lot of everyday situations where you might not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others do.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are increasing the volume on your TV?
- Does environmental 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 take place regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal connections.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested On A Regular Basis
According to the standards provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are recommended to have a hearing assessment every 10 years before reaching the age of 50. For adults aged 50 and above, it is recommended to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.
1. Genetics
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is a very good reason to schedule a hearing test with a hearing specialist.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
By knowing your hearing ability in each ear, you can pinpoint potential problems or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing difficulties that could indicate the need for additional evaluations or interventions.
3. Helps Measure Future Changes
Every new test will analyze recent data together with previous tests. Certain changes take place slowly, and the tests will identify any changes that might not be obvious to you.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Advanced diagnostic tools now keep track of fluctuations and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and address issues, such as excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Detect Health Problems
Sometimes hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (connected to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Managing the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could possibly reduce hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient doesn’t get treatment, they can become despondent and fear social situations, encouraging solitude and further depression. Elderly individuals dealing with hearing difficulties might be at a higher risk of sustaining injuries due to their inability to hear alert signals such as car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Additionally, research has shown a connection between unaddressed hearing loss and an elevated danger of developing cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
Perhaps you have suspected you have a hearing loss. You now have the information you need, including the awareness that hearing aids can have a positive effect 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 managed with the suitable 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 worried that you might be experiencing hearing difficulties.
