Hearing loss frequently begins with slight, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to miss. Actually, it is normally friends and family who tip off someone to their hearing issue. While children are routinely tested, many adults do not think about scheduling a hearing test like they would for their vision.
Clues You Might Need a Hearing Exam
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 noticing yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a loud restaurant make it harder to hear and understand conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disagreements?
These kinds of situations can happen on a daily basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested Regularly
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidelines state that adults should get a hearing assessment every 10 years up until age 50, and adults over the age of 50 should have one every 3 years.
1. Genetics
If your family members are dealing with hearing troubles, it is a good plan to schedule a hearing evaluation with an expert specializing in hearing health.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
By knowing your hearing ability in each ear, you can identify potential issues or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing subtle hearing problems that could indicate the need for further assessments or interventions.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new data with past assessments. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
New tests track changes and how quickly they are occurring, which can help diagnose and manage issues early, including an accumulation of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Diagnose 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. You may be able to relieve hearing loss by managing the medical conditions causing it.
6. Prevent Further Damage
If a patient does not get treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social situations, resulting in increased seclusion and worsening of their depression. Seniors who have hearing issues can have increased accidents when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that indicate danger. In addition, neglected hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You may have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree 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.
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 family member’s voice.
Get in touch with us if you want to schedule a hearing exam or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.