Why is it important to have your hearing examined on a regular basis? Well, the truth is that hearing loss can have significant and long-term impacts on your overall wellness. Your quality of life will be improved, your health will be improved, and you will get proper treatment faster if you get evaluated regularly.
Getting a hearing test – who should do it?
A loss in hearing ability can produce effects that can seriously hinder your health and wellness. For instance, hearing loss can lead to extreme social isolation. Even while carrying out tasks like going to the supermarket, people who suffer from hearing loss will often avoid reaching out to family and friends because they have a hard time understanding conversations. This kind of social isolation can be harmful to your mental health and, possibly somewhat surprisingly, your physical well-being.
Hearing loss can cause other problems as well. For example, neglected hearing loss has been associated with many chronic conditions, including cognitive decline and depression. Comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been associated with hearing loss.
So scheduling a routine hearing exam will be a good plan for pretty much everybody.
Four reasons to monitor your hearing
There are four noteworthy reasons why checking your hearing can be beneficial to your general health.
1. You can determine the baseline for your healthy hearing
Why would you want to have your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, there are several good reasons to get a hearing exam early. Your present level of hearing can be established by a hearing exam and that’s probably the most significant thing. If your hearing changes in the future, this will make it easier to detect. This is especially true because hearing loss tends to advance gradually, the first symptoms aren’t always noticeable.
Before you notice any symptoms, a hearing test will help identify hearing loss in its early stages.
2. Diagnose and treat problems earlier
Hearing loss is normally a gradual condition, meaning it often gets worse over time. As a result, identifying hearing loss early frequently means a better prognosis. This is because you’re capable of treating the condition at the earliest possible time.
When you get treatment early it will mean doing things like using ear protection or possibly wearing hearing aids. Treatment can help you avoid many of the associated problems listed above, including dementia, depression, and social isolation.
3. Future changes will be easier to evaluate
Your hearing loss will continue to progress even after you get diagnosed. Regular hearing exams can help you identify changes as you go along, and make changes to your treatment plan as necessary.
4. You can avoid further damage to your ears
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the kind of damage that occurs slowly and over time. Visiting us regularly to get your hearing assessed helps you identify that damage as early as possible, and it also gives you access to a substantial resource: your hearing specialist. We can give you information, treatments, and best practices that can help keep your hearing as healthy as possible.
We can help you determine ways to keep sounds around you quieter and also help you safeguard your ears from day-to-day damage.
How often should I get my hearing tested?
In general, it’s suggested that adults get a hearing test sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. Unless we recommend more frequent visits or if you detect any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing assessments.
But perhaps you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing test? Hearing tests are usually totally non-invasive. Typically, you simply listen for some tones in a special set of headphones.
We will be able to help you get the care you need, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you just need to protect your ears. And we can help you determine what your hearing exam schedule should be.