The majority of hearing loss is slight initially, and you may not even notice a change. Often, it is loved ones who are the first to notice and bring attention to a person’s hearing trouble. Although children are routinely assessed, many adults do not consider scheduling a hearing exam like they would for their vision.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Exam
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.
- Are you regularly asking people to repeat themselves?
- Are you noticing yourself turning up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a loud restaurant make it more difficult to hear and understand conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home leading to disputes?
Such incidents can take place regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Tested Regularly
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 have one every 3 years.
1. Family History
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. Set Your Baseline Hearing
Once you know your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any issues.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that may require further tests or treatments.
3. Helps Gauge Future Changes
Every fresh test will evaluate recent data together with previous tests. Certain adjustments take place progressively, and the tests will identify any changes that might not be noticeable to you.
4. Helps in Recognizing and Managing Problems at an Early Stage
New tests monitor changes and how quickly they are occurring, which can help identify and manage issues early, such as an accumulation of earwax or noise-induced hearing loss.
5. Detect Health Issues
In some cases, hearing loss can be an indicator of a more significant underlying health problem, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease, all of which have been connected to hearing issues and tinnitus. Managing the root medical conditions that are causing it could possibly reduce hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient is without treatment, they can become depressed and fear social settings, inviting solitude and further depression. Elderly people experiencing hearing difficulties may be at a higher danger of sustaining injuries due to their inability to hear warning signals including car horns, smoke alarms, and other warning sounds. Moreover, neglected hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline and falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You may have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree of hearing loss. 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.
After receiving the correct hearing aids to manage your hearing loss, you will experience enhanced listening ability in conversations, work meetings, and while enjoying the sounds of your child’s laughter or a family member’s voice.
Contact us if you want to schedule a hearing test or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.