The majority of hearing loss is slight at first, and you might not even recognize a change. Actually, it is normally friends and family who alert someone to their hearing issue. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this essential checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Clues You Might Need a Hearing Exam
Throughout 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 frequently asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to understand everybody at a loud restaurant?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing disputes?
These type of situations can happen on a day-to-day basis and continue to affect relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested On A Regular Basis
According to the guidelines provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are advised 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 an expert specializing in hearing health.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
Once you know your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any problems.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing subtle hearing difficulties that could signal the need for additional evaluations or interventions.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new data with past tests. Some changes occur slowly, and the tests will identify any changes even if you don’t.
4. Assists in Identifying and Addressing Issues at an Early Stage
Innovative diagnostic tools now keep track of changes and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and address issues, like excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Pinpoint Medical Conditions
In some instances, hearing loss can be a sign of a more serious root health issue, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease, all of which have been connected to hearing problems and tinnitus. Managing the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially alleviate hearing loss.
6. Prevent Further Damage
When a patient is without treatment, they can become despondent and fear social settings, inviting seclusion and more depression. Elderly people dealing with hearing difficulties may be at an increased risk of experiencing injuries as a result of their inability to hear alert signals such as car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Moreover, neglected hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
Maybe you have suspected you have a hearing loss. You now have the information you require, including the understanding that hearing aids can have a positive impact on multiple areas of your life, improving not only your ability to hear, but also your connections with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
After getting the right hearing aids to manage your hearing loss, you will experience improved 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 arrange a hearing evaluation or if you’re concerned that you may be experiencing hearing difficulties.