Hearing loss frequently starts out with slight, almost imperceptible changes that can be easy to miss. Typically, it is loved ones who are the first to notice and bring attention to a person’s hearing trouble. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to overlook this essential checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are frequently prioritized.
Indications That You Might Require a Hearing Assessment
There are a lot of daily instances where you might not be hearing everything and definitely not hearing what others do.
- 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 harder to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life leading to conflicts?
Such episodes can take place regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Checked Regularly
According to the standards 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 recommended to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.
1. Family History
If your family members are dealing with hearing difficulties, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can identify potential problems or areas for improvement.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that may require further evaluations or treatments.
3. Helps Measure Future Changes
Every fresh test will analyze recent data alongside previous tests. Certain changes occur progressively, and the tests will pinpoint any changes that might not be obvious to you.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
New tests track changes and how rapidly they are happening, which can help diagnose and treat issues early, such as a buildup of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Pinpoint 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. Treating the root medical conditions that are causing it could possibly reduce hearing loss.
6. Prevent Further Damage
When a patient is without treatment, they can become despondent and fear social settings, encouraging seclusion and more depression. Elderly individuals experiencing hearing difficulties may be at an increased risk of sustaining injuries as a result of their inability to hear warning signals such as car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Furthermore, research has revealed a link between neglected hearing loss and an elevated risk of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
Maybe you have suspected you have a hearing loss. Now you have answers, including the knowledge that hearing aids will enhance not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
After getting the right hearing aids to address 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.
Reach out to us to set up a hearing assessment or if you’re worried that you might be experiencing hearing troubles.