The majority of hearing loss is subtle initially, and you may not even notice a change. In fact, it is normally friends and family who tip off someone to their hearing problem. Although children are regularly tested, many adults do not consider scheduling a hearing exam like they would for their vision.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Evaluation
Throughout the day, there are many occasions when you might fail to hear certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are boosting the volume on your TV?
- Is it harder to understand everyone at a loud restaurant?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing disputes?
These kinds of situations can occur on a daily basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Checked Regularly
According to the standards provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are advised 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 your family members are dealing with hearing difficulties, it is a good plan to schedule a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Set Your Baseline Hearing
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can identify potential problems or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing difficulties that could indicate the need for additional assessments or interventions.
3. Helps Gauge Future Changes
Each new test will compare new information with past assessments. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you don’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Issues
Advanced diagnostic tools now monitor fluctuations and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to recognize and manage problems, like excessive earwax accumulation or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Pinpoint 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 may be able to relieve hearing loss by managing the medical conditions causing it.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
If a patient does not receive treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social settings, resulting in enhanced isolation and worsening of their depression. Elderly people experiencing hearing difficulties may be at an increased risk of experiencing injuries due to their inability to hear warning signals such as car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Additionally, research has revealed a link between unaddressed hearing loss and an increased risk of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You might have wondered if you’re dealing with some amount of hearing loss. You now have the information you require, including the understanding that hearing aids can have a positive impact on numerous areas of your life, improving not only your ability to hear, but also your relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and social circle.
After getting the right hearing aids to manage your hearing loss, you will experience improved listening 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 assessment or if you’re concerned that you might be experiencing hearing troubles.