From cooking meals to our jobs to social events – our lives are busy and chaotic. It most likely seems like there’s never enough time to have your hearing tested. And maybe you think it can wait because you don’t recognize you’re afflicted by hearing loss.
Here’s why you shouldn’t wait:
1. You Can Stop Additional Hearing Loss
Many individuals don’t recognize how serious their hearing loss is becoming because it advances so slowly. As time passes, they start compensating and changing their lifestyle without knowing it. In the meantime, they continue to do things to make their hearing loss worse.
But knowledge is power.
It can be an eye-opener to have your hearing checked. There isn’t any way to undo any hearing loss you might already have, but you can slow its progression.
If you are experiencing moderate hearing loss, you will want to know how to keep it from getting worse.
The progression of hearing loss can be slowed by more efficiently managing chronic disease, reducing your blood pressure, and exercising more.
Reducing your exposure to loud noises and wearing earplugs during loud activities will further protect your inner ears from additional damage.
2. You’re Missing More Than You Realize
You may have slowly forgotten your appreciation for music if you’ve been experiencing moderate hearing loss. Not needing to ask family and friends to repeat what they said when they talk to you is something you might not even remember.
You may have slowly distanced yourself from friends or your favorite activities.
You can determine just how much hearing loss you have by getting a hearing test. In the majority of cases, we can help you hear better.
3. You Might Enhance Your Hearing Aid Experience
If you already have a hearing aid, you might not want to wear it. You might not feel like it enhances your listening experience. Visiting a hearing specialist and having your hearing re-tested will guarantee you have the hearing aids that work best for you and that they are set up for your personal listening requirements.
4. It’s Possible That You’re At Risk Already
13% of people 12 and older in the U.S. (30 million people) have measurable hearing impairment in both ears. Among adults ages 55 to 64, 8.5 percent are experiencing disabling hearing loss. Environmental factors are commonly to blame. It’s not simply something that occurs when you get older. Exposure to loud sound causes the majority of it.
Your at an increased risk if you are engaged in any of these activities:
- Have a loud job
- Ride loud vehicles including a snowmobile, ATV, or motorcycle
- Turn your headphones or earbuds up too loud
- Hunt or practice shooting with firearms
- Use a motorized lawnmower
- Go to concerts, plays, or concerts
Every one of these daily activities can trigger hearing loss. If you notice a decline in your hearing whatever age, you should have your hearing examined by a hearing specialist as soon as you can.
5. Your Over-all Health Will Improve
Individuals with neglected hearing loss have a significantly higher risk of:
- Longer time spent in hospitals and rehab
- Slow healing or frequent hospital admissions
- Falls that cause injuries
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s
- Anxiety
- Social isolation (preferring to be alone)
- Depression
- Missing or skipping out on doctor appointments
A hearing test is not only about your hearing.
6. Restore Tense Relationships
Untreated hearing loss can test the patience of your family members and friends. It’s more common for misunderstandings to occur. Everyone will get irritated with the situation, including you. Resentment and regret might be the result. Friends and family members may even exclude you from gatherings rather than having to constantly repeat themselves.
But misunderstandings and stressed relationships can be prevented by getting a hearing assessment and that’s the good news.