The majority of hearing loss is slight at first, and you may not even detect a change. Often, it is loved ones who are the first to notice and bring awareness to a person’s hearing trouble. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to neglect this essential checkup, unlike regular eye exams that are often prioritized.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Assessment
All through the day, there are many occasions when you might fail to hear certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to hear everybody at a noisy restaurant?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life leading to conflicts?
These type of situations can occur on a daily basis and continue to affect relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Assessed On A Regular Basis
According to the guidelines supplied 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 screening every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing issues, this is a very good reason to schedule a hearing exam with a hearing professional.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Present Hearing Level
By knowing your hearing ability in each ear, you can determine potential issues or areas for improvement.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that might require further tests or treatments.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new data with previous tests. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you can’t.
4. Assists in Recognizing and Addressing Issues at an Early Stage
New tests monitor changes and how quickly they are happening, which can help diagnose and manage problems early, such as an accumulation of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Detect Health Problems
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. Managing the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially alleviate hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
If a patient does not receive treatment, they might experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social situations, leading to increased isolation and worsening of their depression. Elderly people experiencing hearing difficulties 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. In addition, untreated hearing loss is linked to dementia and falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You might have wondered if you’re dealing with some amount of 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.
Once your hearing loss is managed with the appropriate 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 family member’s voice.
Get in touch with us if you want to schedule a hearing test or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.