Why is it important to have your hearing examined regularly? That’s because your overall health can be significantly impacted by hearing loss. Your quality of life will be improved, your health will be improved, and you will get the right treatment faster if you get tested regularly.
Who should get a hearing exam?
Your health and well-being can be significantly impacted by neglected hearing loss. Social isolation, for example, can be a consequence of untreated hearing loss. Even while doing tasks like going to the store, people who suffer from hearing loss will often avoid reaching out to family and friends because they have a hard time understanding conversations. This sort of social isolation can be harmful to your mental health and, possibly somewhat surprisingly, your physical wellness.
Hearing loss can trigger other problems as well. Numerous chronic conditions, including depression and dementia, have been linked to untreated hearing loss. It’s also been associated with various comorbidities, including diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure.
So scheduling a routine hearing assessment will be a good strategy for pretty much everyone.
Four reasons to check your hearing
There are four significant reasons why checking your hearing can be worthwhile to your general health.
1. Establishing a baseline for your hearing is important
Why would you want to have your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, there are several good reasons to take a hearing test early. Your present level of hearing can be established by a hearing exam and that’s probably the most important thing. If your hearing changes in the future, this will make it easier to identify. This is especially true because hearing loss tends to progress slowly, the first symptoms are not always obvious.
Getting a baseline hearing test will help identify problems well before you observe them.
2. Diagnose and treat issues earlier
Hearing loss is usually a progressive condition, meaning it often gets worse over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you catch your hearing loss early. If you treat the condition as early as possible, you will have more positive results.
When you get treatment early it will mean doing things like using ear protection or possibly wearing hearing aids. Many of the related problems like cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression can be avoided with early treatment.
3. It’s easier to assess future changes
Even if you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, that doesn’t mean your hearing won’t continue to get worse as you get older. Regular hearing assessments can enable early detection and your treatment plan can be adjusted as needed.
4. Additional damage can be avoided
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the kind of damage that happens gradually and over time. Your hearing specialist is a substantial resource and visiting us regularly will help you identify any hearing loss as early as possible. We can help you keep your hearing as healthy as possible by providing you with treatments, best practices, and information.
For instance, we can help you determine ways to safeguard your ears from day-to-day damage or establish strategies designed to help you keep sounds around you quieter.
How often should I get my hearing assessed?
On the earlier side, adults should put off no longer than their early twenties to begin routine hearing exams. Unless we recommend more frequent visits or if you detect any hearing problems, 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? In general, they’re entirely non-invasive procedures. Usually, you simply listen for some tones in a special set of headphones.
We will be able to help you get the treatment you need, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you just need to safeguard your ears. And a hearing exam can help you figure out when the best time to get your care may be.