Why is it worthwhile to have your hearing assessed regularly? That’s because your general health can be substantially impacted by hearing loss. Your quality of life will be improved, your health will be enhanced, and you will get proper treatment quicker if you get evaluated regularly.
Getting a hearing exam – who should do it?
Your health and well-being can be seriously affected by neglected hearing loss. For example, hearing loss can lead to intense social isolation. Talking with family and friends can become more challenging, and those who suffer from hearing loss may be less likely to reach out to others, even during normal activities like shopping or going to work. It may not be shocking that this type of social isolation can lead to mental health issues, but it might come as a surprise to learn that it can be harmful to your physical health too.
Other health issues can come from neglected hearing loss also. Numerous chronic conditions, including depression and cognitive decline, have been linked to untreated hearing loss. Comorbidities, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been associated with hearing loss.
So scheduling a routine hearing test will be a good strategy for pretty much everybody.
Four reasons to check your hearing
Getting your hearing tested can be helpful to your overall health for four specific reasons.
1. You can identify the baseline for your healthy hearing
Why would you want to have your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, getting a hearing exam early is a good plan for several reasons. 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 detect. This is particularly true because hearing loss tends to develop gradually, the first symptoms aren’t always obvious.
Getting a baseline hearing exam will help detect issues long before you notice them.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is important
Hearing loss normally progresses gradually over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you recognize 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 associated problems like cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression can be avoided with early treatment.
3. It’s easier to measure future changes
Your hearing loss will continue to progress even after you get diagnosed. Regular hearing exams can facilitate early detection and your treatment plan can be modified as needed.
4. You can prevent further damage to your ears
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the type of damage that happens slowly and over time. Seeing us regularly to get your hearing checked helps you detect that damage as early as possible, and it also gives you access to a considerable resource: your hearing specialist. We can provide you with information, treatments, and best practices that can help keep your ears as healthy as possible.
For example, we can help you identify ways to safeguard your ears from day-to-day damage or establish strategies designed to help you keep sounds around you quieter.
What should my hearing test routine look like?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that adults undergo a hearing exam sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. Unless we suggest more frequent visits or if you notice any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing tests.
What should I expect my hearing exam to be like? Hearing tests are usually completely non-invasive. Frequently, all you do is put on special headphones and listen for a specific sound.
We will be able to help you get the care you require, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you just need to safeguard your ears. And a hearing exam can help you determine when the best time to get your care might be.