Most hearing loss is slight at first, and you may not even recognize a change. Actually, it is normally family and friends who tip off somebody to their hearing problem. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this crucial checkup, unlike regular eye exams that are frequently prioritized.
Indications That You Might Require a Hearing Evaluation
There are lots of daily instances where you might not be hearing everything and definitely not hearing what others are.
- Are you frequently asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you noticing yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to understand everybody at a noisy restaurant?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing conflicts?
Such incidents can occur regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal connections.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested Regularly
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidelines state that adults should get a hearing assessment every 10 years up until age 50, and adults over the age of 50 should have one every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is an excellent reason to set up a hearing exam with a hearing professional.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
Once you are aware of your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any issues.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing difficulties that could indicate the need for further assessments or interventions.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Every new test will compare new information with previous tests. Some changes happen slowly, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
New tests track changes and how rapidly they are happening, which can help identify and treat issues early, such as an accumulation of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Diagnose Medical Conditions
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition including diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. You may be able to alleviate hearing loss by treating the medical conditions causing it.
6. Decrease Additional Harm
If a patient does not receive treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social situations, resulting in enhanced isolation and worsening of their depression. Elderly individuals experiencing hearing troubles may be at a higher risk of sustaining injuries as a result of 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 risk of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You may have wondered if you’re dealing with some amount of hearing impairment. Now you have answers, including the knowledge that hearing aids will enhance not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.
After receiving the right hearing aids to address your hearing loss, you will experience enhanced 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 evaluation or if you’re concerned that you may be experiencing hearing difficulties.
