Why is it essential to have your hearing assessed regularly? Well, the reality is that hearing loss can have significant and long-term impacts on your overall health. Getting your hearing examined regularly can help you identify hearing loss early, get care quicker, and, improve your health, wellness, and quality of life.
Getting a hearing exam – who should do it?
Your health and well-being can be significantly impacted by untreated hearing loss. Social isolation, for instance, can be a consequence of untreated hearing loss. Even while undertaking tasks such as 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 making out conversations. It might not be shocking that this type of social isolation can result in mental health issues, but it might come as a surprise to learn that it can be detrimental to your physical health too.
Other health issues can come from neglected hearing loss also. For instance, untreated hearing loss has been associated with many chronic conditions, including cognitive decline and depression. It’s also been linked to a number of comorbidities, including diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure.
So scheduling a routine hearing assessment will be a good plan for pretty much everybody.
You should get your hearing checked for these four reasons
There are four significant reasons why checking your hearing can be worthwhile to your general health.
1. You can discover the baseline for your healthy hearing
It may seem ridiculous to get your hearing tested while your hearing is still healthy, right? Well, there are several good reasons to get a hearing exam early. The most significant is that a hearing test will give us a detailed picture of your current hearing health. If your hearing changes in the future, this will make it easier to detect. Early symptoms of hearing loss frequently go unnoticed because hearing loss often progresses slowly over time.
Getting a baseline hearing test will help detect issues well before you observe them.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is important
Hearing loss typically progresses slowly over time. Consequently, catching hearing loss early frequently means a better prognosis. This is because you’re capable of treating the condition at the earliest possible time.
Early treatment may include anything from taking steps to safeguard your hearing like using ear protection in loud settings to the use of hearing aids. Many of the related problems like dementia, social isolation, and depression can be avoided with early treatment.
3. Future changes will be easier to assess
Your hearing loss will continue to progress even after you get diagnosed. Regular hearing exams can enable early detection and your treatment plan can be modified as needed.
4. Further damage can be prevented
Hearing loss that progresses gradually over time is usually caused by damage. Your hearing specialist is a considerable resource and visiting us regularly will help you detect 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 example, we can help you determine ways to safeguard your ears from day-to-day damage or establish strategies created to help you keep sounds around you quieter.
How often should I have my hearing assessed?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that adults get a hearing test 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.
But maybe you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing test? In general, they’re totally non-invasive procedures. Usually, you simply listen for some tones in a special pair of headphones.
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.