Why is getting routine hearing assessments essential? That’s because your general health can be significantly affected by hearing loss. Having your hearing examined regularly can help you detect hearing loss early, get care faster, and, improve your health, well-being, and quality of life.
Who should get a hearing exam?
A loss in hearing capability can produce effects that can greatly impede your health and well-being. For instance, hearing loss can result in intense social isolation. Conversations with family and friends can become more challenging, and individuals who suffer from hearing loss might be less likely to reach out to others, even during normal activities like shopping or going to work. This type of social isolation can be harmful to your mental health and, possibly somewhat surprisingly, your physical well-being.
Other health concerns can come from neglected hearing loss also. For instance, untreated hearing loss has been associated with many chronic conditions, including dementia and depression. Comorbidities, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been linked to hearing loss.
This means that it’s generally a good plan for just about anybody to schedule a routine hearing test.
Four reasons to check your hearing
Getting your hearing tested can be helpful to your general health for four specific reasons.
1. Establishing a baseline for your hearing is significant
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. The most important is that a hearing exam will give us a precise picture of your current hearing health. This will make it much easier to detect any changes in the future. Early symptoms of hearing loss frequently go unnoticed because hearing loss often progresses gradually over time.
Getting a baseline hearing test will help identify issues well before you observe them.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is important
Hearing loss is usually a gradual condition, meaning it tends to get worse 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 steps to protect your hearing like using ear protection in loud settings to the use of hearing aids. Treatment can help you avoid many of the associated problems listed above, including dementia, depression, and social isolation.
3. It’s easier to evaluate 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 exams can help you identify changes as you go along, and make adjustments to your treatment plan as necessary.
4. You can prevent further damage to your ears
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the type of damage that occurs 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 help you keep your ears as healthy as possible by providing you with treatments, best practices, and information.
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 frequently should I get my hearing tested?
On the earlier side, adults should put off no longer than their early twenties to start routine hearing exams. Unless we suggest more frequent visits or if you detect any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing assessments.
But maybe you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing exam? Hearing exams are generally entirely non-invasive. Often, all you do is put on special headphones and listen for a particular sound.
We will be able to help you get the treatment you need, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you simply need to safeguard your ears. And we can help you figure out what your hearing exam schedule should be.