The majority of hearing loss is subtle initially, and you may not even detect a change. Actually, it is usually family and friends who tip off somebody to their hearing problem. While hearing exams are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this crucial checkup, unlike regular eye exams that are frequently prioritized.
Indications That You May Require a Hearing Assessment
All through the day, there are many occasions when you could miss certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you noticing yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a loud restaurant make it more difficult to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disputes?
Such episodes can occur regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Important Benefits of Scheduling Regular Hearing Assessments
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidelines state that adults should get a hearing assessment every 10 years up until age 50, and adults over the age of 50 should get one every 3 years.
1. Genetic makeup
If other members of your family have hearing problems, this is a very good reason to set up a hearing exam with a hearing specialist.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Present Hearing Level
Once you are aware of your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any problems.
There are sounds you might not be hearing and impairments that may indicate further tests or treatments.
3. Monitors Progress Over Time
Every new test will compare new data with past tests. Some changes happen gradually, and the tests will identify any changes even if you can’t.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
New tests track changes and how rapidly they are happening, which can help diagnose and treat problems early, including a buildup of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Diagnose Medical Conditions
Sometimes hearing loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition including diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Treating the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could potentially reduce hearing loss.
6. Prevent Further Damage
When a patient is without treatment, they can become despondent and fear social settings, inviting solitude and further 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 mean danger. Furthermore, research has shown a link between unaddressed hearing loss and an increased danger of developing cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Getting the Answers You Need
You may have wondered if you’re experiencing some amount of hearing loss. Now you have answers, including the knowledge that hearing aids will enhance not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
Once your hearing loss is treated with the appropriate 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.
Reach out to us to arrange a hearing evaluation or if you’re concerned that you might be experiencing hearing difficulties.
The content of this blog is the intellectual property of MedPB.com and is reprinted here with permission.
The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.
