Hearing loss often begins with slight, almost unperceivable changes that can be easy to overlook. Typically, it is loved ones who are the first to recognize and bring attention to a person’s hearing problem. While hearing exams are a routine part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this crucial checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Indications That You Might Require a Hearing Assessment
There are lots of daily instances where you might not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others are.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are boosting the volume on your TV?
- Is it difficult to understand everybody at a noisy restaurant?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disputes?
Such incidents can take place frequently and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested On A Regular Basis
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association standards state that adults should get a hearing screening every 10 years up until age 50, and adults over the age of 50 should get one every 3 years.
1. Family History
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is a very good reason to schedule a hearing exam with a hearing specialist.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
By understanding your hearing ability in each ear, you can pinpoint potential issues or areas for improvement.
You may be missing certain sounds or experiencing slight hearing problems that could indicate the need for additional evaluations or interventions.
3. Helps Measure Future Changes
Every new test will compare new data with previous assessments. Some changes occur gradually, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you don’t.
4. Helps in Identifying and Managing Problems at an Early Stage
Advanced diagnostic tools now monitor changes and their rate of advancement, enabling healthcare professionals to identify and address problems, such as excessive earwax accumulation or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Pinpoint Medical Conditions
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. You might be able to alleviate hearing loss by managing the medical conditions causing it.
6. Prevent Further Damage
When a patient doesn’t get treatment, they can become depressed and fear social settings, encouraging seclusion and more depression. Elderly people dealing with hearing difficulties might be at an increased danger of experiencing injuries as a result of their inability to hear warning signals including car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Furthermore, research has shown a link between neglected hearing loss and an elevated risk of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
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 numerous facets 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 treated with the suitable hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear more efficiently during conversations or work meetings, or simply listen to your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Get in touch with us if you want to schedule a hearing exam or if you think you are noticing hearing loss.