Hearing loss often starts out with mild, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to overlook. In fact, it is normally friends and family who alert somebody to their hearing problem. While hearing exams are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to neglect this essential checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are frequently prioritized.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Evaluation
There are lots of everyday situations where you might not be hearing everything and definitely not hearing what others are.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat what they said?
- Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to hear everyone at a noisy restaurant?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing disputes?
Such episodes can occur frequently and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Important Advantages of Scheduling Regular Hearing Assessments
According to the standards supplied by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are recommended 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 screening every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is an excellent reason to set up a hearing exam with a hearing professional.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can determine potential issues or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing problems that could signal the need for additional evaluations or interventions.
3. Helps Gauge Future Changes
Each new test will compare new information with past tests. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you don’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Innovative diagnostic tools now keep track of changes and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and manage issues, such as excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Detect Health Issues
In some scenarios, 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. You might be able to relieve hearing loss by managing the medical conditions causing it.
6. Stop Further Damage
If a patient does not get treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social situations, leading to enhanced 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. Furthermore, research has shown a link between unaddressed hearing loss and an increased risk of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You may have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree of hearing impairment. Now you have answers, including the understanding that hearing aids will improve not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
After getting the correct 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 troubles.