If you’re like most, you’ve most likely been putting off your hearing test. You may even have had others propose that you get one but you keep finding reasons not to go.
If so, we’re going to try to convince you to start the new year by finally getting that hearing test. As you’ll notice, getting a hearing test is quick and easy, and if you do have hearing loss, correcting it does wonders for your health and happiness—not to mention it gets everyone off your back.
So here’s our case for why you should arrange a hearing test as soon as possible.
Our top 10 reasons to get your hearing tested are:
1. The hearing test is painless and takes under an hour – it’s easy to arrange an appointment, and having your hearing tested takes less time than it takes to go shopping for groceries. Rather than having it continually in the back of your mind, call today and set up your appointment.
2. If your hearing is normal you can rub it in – if the hearing test verifies that your hearing is normal, you can inform your friends and family members that they really ARE mumbling.
3. You may, in fact, have hearing loss and not recognize it – hearing loss builds up gradually, so the person afflicted is normally not the first to notice. That means there’s a good chance your loved ones were correct when they suggested that you get a hearing test in the first place.
4. Hearing loss gets worse over time and is best treated early – the hearing you lose cannot be totally restored, but hearing aids can help reverse the process and stimulate the areas of the brain involved with sound and speech processing.
5. Hearing loss may be indicative of other health problems – hearing loss is typically caused by direct exposure to loud noise or by the normal aging process. But on occasion, hearing loss is a symptom of a more dangerous underlying cardiovascular or neurological condition. In any event, your hearing health is deeply connected to your total well-being.
6. You can preserve and enhance your mind and memory – recent studies by Johns Hopkins University have linked hearing loss to cognitive decline, memory problems, and even dementia. But a recent study has also established that maximizing sound stimulation to the brain may help to keep your mind sharp.
7. You can boost your mood – researchers have found a strong link between hearing loss and depression, but research also demonstrates that people with hearing loss that use hearing aids have less depressive symptoms and greater social engagement.
8. You’ll be more outgoing and social – If you do have hearing loss and can be helped by hearing aids, you might experience an adjustment in your social habits. Those with healthier hearing have the tendency to be more extroverted and less restrained in groups, which enhances both mood and physical health.
9. You’ll have better conversations – hearing loss commonly affects speech comprehension to the greatest degree, interfering with conversations. If you’re tired of having to say “what” constantly, it may be time for a hearing test.
10. You can earn more money – a study by the Better Hearing Institute found that individuals with hearing loss, on average, earn $12,000 less per year when compared with those with normal hearing, contingent on the degree of hearing loss. However, the study also found that the use of hearing aids offset these income effects by 50 percent.
As the research continues to pour in, it will only verify how essential hearing health is to our total quality of life. So if you care about your health, your relationships, and your overall well-being, now is the time to take action.
So how about it? For the benefit of your health and happiness and for those around you, book your hearing test today!