Hearing loss often begins with mild, almost imperceptible changes that can be easy to overlook. In fact, it is usually friends and family who alert somebody to their hearing problem. While children are regularly tested, many adults do not consider scheduling a hearing test like they would for their vision.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Test
There are lots of everyday instances where you may not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others do.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are boosting the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to hear everyone at a loud restaurant?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disputes?
Such incidents can occur regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Assessed On A Regular Basis
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards 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. Family History
If your family members are experiencing hearing difficulties, it is a good idea to book a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Present Hearing Level
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can pinpoint potential problems or areas for improvement.
You may be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing difficulties that could indicate the need for further evaluations or interventions.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Each new test will compare new data with previous assessments. Some changes occur gradually, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Innovative diagnostic tools now keep track of fluctuations and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and address issues, such as excessive earwax accumulation or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Diagnose Medical Conditions
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Managing the root medical conditions that are causing it could potentially alleviate hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient doesn’t get treatment, they can become depressed and fear social settings, inviting seclusion and further depression. Elderly people dealing with hearing difficulties might be at an increased risk of experiencing injuries as a result of their inability to hear alert signals including car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Additionally, research has revealed a link between unaddressed hearing loss and an elevated danger of developing cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You may have wondered if you’re experiencing some amount of hearing impairment. Now you have answers, including the understanding that hearing aids will enhance not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
After getting the correct hearing aids to address your hearing loss, you will experience enhanced listening 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 test or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.