Why is getting routine hearing tests important? That’s because your general health can be considerably impacted by hearing loss. Having your hearing assessed regularly can help you identify hearing loss early, get care faster, and, improve your health, wellness, and quality of life.
Who should get a hearing examination?
A loss in hearing capability can generate effects that can significantly hamper your health and well-being. For instance, hearing loss can lead to intense social isolation. Talking with family and friends can become more difficult, and people with hearing loss may be less likely to reach out to others, even during routine activities like shopping or going to work. This type of social isolation can be harmful to your mental health and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, your physical well-being.
Other health issues 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 associated with hearing loss.
This means that it’s generally a good idea for just about anybody to schedule a routine hearing test.
Four reasons to check your hearing
There are four significant reasons why checking your hearing can be worthwhile to your overall health.
1. You can determine the baseline for your healthy hearing
Why would you want to get your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, getting a hearing test early is a good plan for several reasons. Your current level of hearing can be determined by a hearing test and that’s probably the most important thing. If your hearing changes in the future, this will make it easier to detect. Early symptoms of hearing loss usually go undetected because hearing loss often develops slowly over time.
Before you notice any symptoms, a hearing exam will help identify hearing loss in its early stages.
2. Diagnose and treat issues earlier
Hearing loss typically advances slowly over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you recognize your hearing loss early. If you treat the condition as early as possible, you will have more positive outcomes.
When you get treatment early it will mean doing things like using hearing protection or potentially wearing hearing aids. Treatment can help prevent many of the related issues listed above, such as cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation.
3. Future changes will be easier to assess
Your hearing loss will continue to progress even after you get diagnosed. Regular hearing assessments can enable early detection and your treatment plan can be modified as needed.
4. You can avoid additional damage to your ears
Hearing loss that progresses gradually over time is normally caused by damage. Visiting us regularly to get your hearing assessed helps you detect that damage as early as possible, and it also gives you access to a considerable resource: your hearing specialist. We can help you keep your hearing 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 often should I have my hearing assessed?
On the earlier side, adults should put off no longer than their early twenties to start routine hearing tests. Unless we recommend more frequent visits or if you detect any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing exams.
What should I expect my hearing exam to be like? In general, they’re completely non-invasive procedures. Often, all you do is wear special headphones and listen for a particular sound.
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.
