Why is it essential to get your hearing examined regularly? Well, the reality is that hearing loss can have considerable and long-term impacts on your overall wellness. Your quality of life will be improved, your health will be enhanced, and you will get proper treatment quicker if you get tested regularly.
Who should get a hearing test?
A loss in hearing ability can generate effects that can seriously impede your health and wellness. For instance, hearing loss can result in 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 other people, even during routine activities like shopping or going to work. It may not be shocking that this type of social isolation can lead to mental health problems, but it might come as a surprise to find out that it can be harmful to your physical health too.
Hearing loss can trigger other issues as well. For example, neglected hearing loss has been linked to many chronic conditions, including dementia and depression. Comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have also been associated with hearing loss.
This means that it’s generally a good idea for just about anyone to schedule a routine hearing test.
You should get your hearing tested for these four reasons
There are four noteworthy reasons why checking your hearing can be worthwhile to your general health.
1. Establishing a baseline for your hearing is important
It might seem foolish to take a hearing test while your hearing is still healthy, right? Well, getting a hearing test early is a good idea for several reasons. Your current level of hearing can be established by a hearing exam and that’s probably the most important thing. This will make it much easier to detect any changes in the future. This is especially true because hearing loss tends to develop slowly, the first symptoms aren’t always apparent.
Getting a baseline hearing exam will help detect issues long before you notice them.
2. Diagnose and treat issues earlier
Hearing loss usually progresses gradually over time. As a result, identifying hearing loss early often means a better prognosis. If you treat the condition as early as possible, you will have more positive results.
Early treatment may include anything from taking steps to protect your hearing such as using ear protection in loud settings to using hearing aids. Treatment can help you avoid many of the related problems listed above, including cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation.
3. Future changes will be easier to assess
Even if you’re diagnosed with hearing loss, that doesn’t mean your hearing will remain static for the rest of your life. Routine hearing assessments can help you detect changes as you go along, and make changes to your treatment plan as needed.
4. Further damage can be prevented
The majority of hearing loss is caused by damage, the type of damage that happens gradually 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 instance, we can help you figure out ways to protect your ears from day-to-day damage or establish strategies created to help you keep sounds around you quieter.
How often should I get my hearing tested?
In general, it’s suggested 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 exams.
But perhaps you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing test? Hearing exams are generally totally non-invasive. Typically, you simply listen for some tones in a special pair of headphones.
We will be able to help you get the treatment you require, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you simply need to protect your ears. And we can help you determine what your hearing test schedule should be.