Most hearing loss is subtle initially, and you may not even recognize a change. Actually, it is normally friends and family who alert somebody to their hearing problem. Although children are routinely tested, many adults do not think about scheduling a hearing test like they would for their vision.
Clues You May Need a Hearing Exam
There are a lot of daily situations where you might not be hearing everything and definitely not hearing what others are.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Are you noticing yourself turning up the volume on your TV?
- Does background noise in a busy restaurant make it more difficult to hear and comprehend conversations?
- Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing conflicts?
Such episodes can occur regularly and have a lasting impact on interpersonal relationships.
Specific Reasons Why You Should Have Your Hearing Tested Regularly
According to the guidelines provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are recommended 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 screening 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
By knowing your hearing ability in each ear, you can determine potential issues or areas for improvement.
You might be missing certain sounds or experiencing subtle hearing difficulties that could indicate the need for additional evaluations or interventions.
3. Helps Gauge Future Changes
Every fresh test will analyze recent data alongside previous tests. Certain adjustments occur slowly, and the tests will pinpoint any alterations that may not be obvious to you.
4. Helps Diagnose and Treat Early Problems
Advanced diagnostic tools now keep track of fluctuations 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 cases hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Treating the root medical conditions that are causing it could potentially alleviate hearing loss.
6. Minimize Additional Harm
When a patient is without treatment, they can become despondent and fear social situations, encouraging solitude and further depression. Elderly individuals dealing with hearing difficulties might be at a higher risk of sustaining 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 cognitive decline and experiencing falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You might have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree of hearing impairment. 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.
After receiving the correct hearing aids to address 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.
Get in touch with us if you want to schedule a hearing test or if you think you are noticing hearing loss.