Why is it important to have your hearing screened on a regular basis? Well, the fact is that hearing loss can have substantial and long-term effects on your overall health. Having your hearing screened regularly can help you detect hearing loss early, get care quicker, and, improve your health, wellness, and quality of life.
Who should get a hearing examination?
Your health and well-being can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss. For example, hearing loss can result in extreme social isolation. Even while doing tasks such as going to the store, people who suffer from hearing loss will tend to avoid reaching out to friends and family because they have a hard time understanding conversations. This type of social isolation can be harmful to your mental health and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, your physical well-being.
Other health concerns can be the result of neglected hearing loss also. For example, neglected hearing loss has been associated with many chronic conditions, including dementia and depression. Comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been linked to hearing loss.
This means that it’s generally a good idea for just about anybody to schedule a routine hearing test.
You should get your hearing checked for these four reasons
Getting your hearing tested can be helpful to your general health for four distinct reasons.
1. Setting a baseline for your hearing is important
It might seem silly to get your hearing tested while your hearing is still healthy, right? Well, getting a hearing exam early is a good plan for a number of reasons. Your current level of hearing can be determined by a hearing exam and that’s probably the most important thing. This will make it much easier to detect any changes in the future. This is especially true because hearing loss tends to progress gradually, the first symptoms aren’t always obvious.
Getting a baseline hearing exam will help identify problems well before you observe them.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is important
Hearing loss normally advances gradually over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you catch your hearing loss early. This is because you’re able to treat the condition at the earliest possible time.
Early treatment could include anything from taking measures to safeguard your hearing like using ear protection in noisy spaces to using hearing aids. Treatment can help you avoid many of the associated problems listed above, such as cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation.
3. It’s easier to measure future changes
Even if you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, that doesn’t mean your hearing will remain static for the rest of your life. Regular hearing tests can help you detect changes as you go along, and make changes to your treatment plan as necessary.
4. You can prevent additional damage to your ears
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the type of damage that happens slowly and over time. Your hearing specialist is a substantial resource and seeing us regularly will help you detect any hearing loss as early as possible. We can give you information, treatments, and best practices that can help keep your ears as healthy as possible.
For instance, we can help you figure out ways to safeguard your ears from day-to-day damage or develop strategies designed to help you keep sounds around you quieter.
How frequently should I have my hearing examined?
On the earlier side, adults should put off no longer than their early twenties to start routine hearing tests. It’s usually standard best practice to get a hearing exam every ten years thereafter unless you notice signs of hearing loss or we recommend something more often.
What should I expect my hearing test to be like? Generally, they’re totally non-invasive procedures. Frequently, all you do is wear special headphones and listen for a particular sound.
Whether you need some hearing protection or a new set of hearing aids, we will be able to help you with the best hearing care. And we can help you determine what your hearing exam schedule should be.