Why is it worthwhile to have your hearing examined on a regular basis? That’s because your overall health can be considerably impacted by hearing loss. Your quality of life will be improved, your health will be improved, and you will get proper treatment faster if you get screened regularly.
Getting a hearing exam – who should do it?
Your health and well-being can be seriously impacted by neglected hearing loss. For instance, hearing loss can lead to extreme social isolation. Conversations with family and friends can become more challenging, and people with 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 problems can be the result of untreated hearing loss also. Numerous chronic conditions, including depression and cognitive decline, have been linked to untreated hearing loss. Comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been linked to hearing loss.
As a result, it’s generally a good idea for just about anybody to schedule a routine hearing test.
Four reasons to monitor your hearing
There are four noteworthy reasons why keeping an eye on your hearing can be worthwhile to your overall health.
1. You can discover the baseline for your healthy hearing
It might seem silly to take a hearing test while your hearing is still healthy, right? Well, getting a hearing exam early is a good idea for several reasons. The most significant is that a hearing test will give us a detailed picture of your present hearing health. If your hearing changes in the future, this will make it simpler to identify. This is particularly true because hearing loss tends to progress gradually, the first symptoms are not always apparent.
Before you observe any symptoms, a hearing exam will help detect hearing loss in its early stages.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential
Hearing loss normally progresses slowly over time. Consequently, identifying hearing loss early often means a better prognosis. 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 potentially wearing hearing aids. Many of the related issues like cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression can be avoided with early treatment.
3. Future changes will be easier to assess
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 assessments can facilitate early detection and your treatment plan can be adjusted as needed.
4. Additional damage can be prevented
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 assessed helps you identify 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 determine ways to protect 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?
In general, it’s recommended that adults get a hearing test sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. It’s normally standard best practice to get a hearing exam every ten years thereafter unless you notice signs of hearing loss or we suggest something more often.
But maybe you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing exam? Hearing exams are usually completely non-invasive. Typically, you simply listen for some tones in a special set of headphones.
Whether you need some hearing protection or a new pair of hearing aids, we will be able to help you with the best hearing care. And a hearing test can help you determine when the best time to get your care may be.
