Hearing loss often begins with mild, almost imperceptible changes that can be easy to miss. Typically, it is loved ones who are the first to recognize and bring attention to a person’s hearing trouble. Although children are routinely assessed, many adults do not think about scheduling a hearing exam like they would for their vision.
Signs You Might Need a Hearing Exam
All through the day, there are many instances when you might miss certain things and especially not hear the same things as other people.
- Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
- Do you notice that you are boosting the volume on your TV?
- Does environmental noise in a loud restaurant make it harder to hear and understand conversations?
- Are there misunderstandings at work or at home causing disputes?
These type of scenarios can occur on a day-to-day basis and continue to impact relationships.
Important Benefits of Scheduling Regular Hearing Assessments
According to the standards 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 advised to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.
1. Family History
If your family members are dealing with hearing troubles, it is a good idea to schedule a hearing examination with a professional specializing in hearing health.
2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Present Hearing Level
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 slight hearing problems that could indicate the need for further evaluations or interventions.
3. Tracks Progress Over Time
Every fresh test will evaluate recent data together with previous tests. Certain adjustments occur progressively, and the tests will pinpoint any alterations that might not be noticeable to you.
4. Assists in Recognizing and Addressing Problems at an Early Stage
Advanced diagnostic tools now monitor fluctuations and their rate of advancement, allowing healthcare professionals to identify and manage problems, such as excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.
5. Identify Health Problems
In some cases hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition including diabetes and high blood pressure (connected to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Managing the underlying medical conditions that are causing it could possibly alleviate hearing loss.
6. Prevent Further Damage
If a patient does not receive treatment, they might experience feelings of depression and anxiety in social settings, resulting in enhanced seclusion and worsening of their depression. Seniors who have hearing issues can have increased injuries when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that mean danger. Moreover, untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.
Finding the Information You’re Looking For
You might have wondered if you’re experiencing some degree of hearing loss. Now you have answers, including the understanding that hearing aids will improve not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
After getting the right hearing aids to address your hearing loss, you will experience improved listening ability in conversations, work meetings, and while enjoying the sounds of your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.
Contact us if you want to schedule a hearing exam or if you think you are experiencing hearing loss.