Hearing loss often starts out with slight, almost imperceptible changes that can be easy to overlook. Typically, it is loved ones who are the first to recognize and bring awareness to a person’s hearing problem. While hearing exams are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to neglect this important checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are often prioritized.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Exam
There are a lot of daily instances where you might not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others do.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are increasing the volume on your TV?
- Does environmental noise in a loud restaurant make it harder to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home leading to disputes?
These type of scenarios can happen on a daily basis and continue to impact relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Assessed On A Regular Basis
According to the guidelines supplied by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are advised to have a hearing screening every 10 years before reaching the age of 50. For adults aged 50 and above, it is recommended to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.
1. Genetics
If your family members are dealing with hearing troubles, it is a good idea to book a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level
Once you are aware of your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any problems.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that may require further tests or treatments.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Every new test will compare new data with previous tests. Some changes occur slowly, and the tests will recognize any changes even if you don’t.
4. Assists in Identifying and Managing Problems at an Early Stage
Innovative diagnostic tools now keep track of changes and their rate of progression, enabling healthcare professionals to identify and manage issues, like excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Diagnose Medical Conditions
In some instances, hearing loss can be a sign of a more significant underlying health issue, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease, all of which have been connected to hearing issues and tinnitus. Treating the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially alleviate hearing loss.
6. Decrease Additional Harm
If a patient does not get treatment, they may experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social settings, 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. Furthermore, research has shown a connection between unaddressed hearing loss and an increased danger of developing dementia and experiencing falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You might have wondered if you’re dealing with some amount of hearing impairment. Now you have answers, including the knowledge that hearing aids will improve not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
Once your hearing loss is managed with the suitable hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear more effectively during discussions or work meetings, or simply listen to 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.