Hearing loss often begins with slight, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to overlook. Actually, it is usually friends and family who tip off someone to their hearing problem. While hearing tests are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to overlook this essential checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Evaluation
All through the day, there are many instances 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 what they said?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Does environmental noise in a busy restaurant make it more difficult to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disagreements?
These kinds of situations can occur on a day-to-day basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Tested Regularly
According to the guidelines 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 advised to have a hearing screening every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is a very good reason to set up a hearing exam with a hearing professional.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
Once you know your hearing ability in each ear, you become aware of any problems.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing difficulties that could signal the need for additional assessments or interventions.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Every fresh test will analyze recent data together with previous tests. Certain changes occur slowly, and the tests will identify any alterations that may not be noticeable to you.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Innovative diagnostic tools now keep track of changes and their rate of progression, enabling healthcare professionals to recognize and address problems, such as excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Diagnose Medical Conditions
Sometimes hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition including diabetes and high blood pressure (connected to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. You might be able to alleviate hearing loss by treating the medical conditions causing it.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient is without treatment, they can become depressed and fear social situations, encouraging seclusion and more depression. Seniors who have hearing problems can have increased injuries when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that indicate danger. Moreover, neglected hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
Perhaps you have suspected you have a hearing loss. You now have the information you require, including the awareness that hearing aids can have a positive effect on multiple areas of your life, enhancing not only your ability to hear, but also your connections with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
Once your hearing loss is managed with the suitable hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear more effectively during conversations or work meetings, or simply listen to your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Contact us if you want to schedule a hearing exam or if you think you are noticing hearing loss.