Hearing loss frequently starts out with slight, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to overlook. In fact, it is normally family and friends who tip off someone to their hearing issue. While hearing exams are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to neglect this essential checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Indications That You Might Require a Hearing Evaluation
There are a lot of everyday instances where you might not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others are.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are boosting the volume on your TV?
- Does environmental noise in a busy restaurant make it more difficult to hear and understand conversations?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing conflicts?
These type of situations can occur on a daily basis and continue to affect relationships.
Important Advantages of Scheduling Regular Hearing Assessments
According to the guidelines 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. Family History
If your family members are experiencing hearing troubles, 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
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can pinpoint potential issues or areas for improvement.
There are sounds you might not be hearing and impairments that might indicate further evaluations or treatments.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new information with previous tests. Some changes occur gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps in Recognizing and Managing Problems at an Early Stage
New tests monitor changes and how quickly they are occurring, which can help diagnose and treat issues early, including a buildup of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Detect Health Problems
Sometimes 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 underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially reduce hearing loss.
6. Prevent Further Damage
If a patient does not receive treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social settings, resulting in enhanced seclusion and worsening of their depression. Seniors who have hearing problems can have increased accidents when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that indicate danger. Moreover, neglected hearing loss is linked to dementia and falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You may have wondered if you’re dealing with some amount of hearing impairment. You now have the information you require, including the understanding that hearing aids can have a positive effect on multiple areas of your life, improving not only your ability to hear, but also your relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
After receiving 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 family member’s voice.
Contact us if you want to schedule a hearing test or if you think you are noticing hearing loss.