From cooking meals to our jobs to social events – our lives are busy and chaotic. It most likely seems like there’s never enough time to have your hearing checked. And maybe you believe it can wait because you don’t think you’re experiencing hearing loss.
Here’s why you shouldn’t put it off:
1. Additional Hearing Loss Can be Prevented
Because hearing loss often progresses gradually, many people don’t realize how bad it has become. As time passes, they start compensating and changing their lifestyle without knowing it. And because they don’t know they have hearing loss, they continue to engage in activities that worsen their hearing loss.
But knowing is half the battle.
Getting your hearing tested can be eye-opening. You can slow the progression of hearing loss but there is no way to reverse the damage already done.
If you are experiencing moderate hearing loss, you will want to understand how to keep it from getting worse.
Exercising, decreasing your blood pressure, and dealing with chronic diseases more thoroughly can slow hearing loss progression.
Reducing your exposure to loud noises and wearing earplugs during loud activities will further protect your inner ears from additional damage.
2. You Don’t Even Realize How Much You’re Missing
You may have slowly forgotten your appreciation for music if you’ve been experiencing moderate hearing loss. Not needing to ask friends and family to repeat themselves when they talk to you is something you may not even remember.
You might have slowly distanced yourself from friends or your favorite experiences.
You can determine just how much hearing loss you have by getting a hearing exam. In most cases, we can help make improvements to your hearing.
3. You Might Make Your Current Hearing Aid Experience Better
If you already use a hearing aid, you might not want to use it. You might not think they help very much. Having your hearing retested by a hearing specialist will help you discover if you have the correct hearing aid for your type and degree of hearing loss and whether it’s effectively adjusted.
4. It’s Possible That You’re At Risk Already
And debilitating hearing loss is endured by 8.5% of adults 55 to64. Environmental factors are typically to blame. It isn’t simply about getting old. Exposure to loud sound causes most of it.
If you participate in the following activities, you’re at an increased risk:
- Ride a motorcycle or snowmobile
- Listen to loud music or wear earbuds
- Shoot guns
- Have a noisy job
- Go to plays, movies, and concerts
- Mow the lawn
Hearing loss can be a consequence of any of these ordinary activities. You need to go have your hearing tested by a hearing professional as soon as possible if you detect a decline in your ability to hear regardless of how old you are.
5. It Will Benefit Your Overall Health
Individuals with neglected hearing loss have a significantly higher chance of:
- Alzheimer’s/dementia
- Social solitude (preferring to be alone)
- Slow healing or repeated hospital visits
- Missing or skipping out on doctor appointments
- Depression
- Longer treatments in hospitals and rehab
- Anxiety
- Falls that cause injuries
A hearing test is not just about your hearing.
6. Strained Relationships Can be Restored
Untreated hearing loss can try the patience of your friends and family members. It’s more common for misunderstandings to occur. Individuals will get frustrated with the situation, including you. Regret and resentment can be the result. Rather than continuously needing to repeat what they said, family and friends might begin to exclude you from gatherings.
But the good news is, having your hearing examined will help restore troubled relationships and stop misunderstandings from occurring again.