Why is getting routine hearing assessments essential? That’s because your general health can be substantially affected by hearing loss. Having your hearing tested regularly can help you identify hearing loss early, get care quicker, and, improve your health, wellness, and quality of life.
Who should get a hearing exam?
Your health and well-being can be significantly impacted by neglected hearing loss. For instance, hearing loss can result in intense social isolation. Even while undertaking tasks like going to the supermarket, people with hearing loss will often avoid reaching out to family and friends because they have a hard time understanding conversations. It may not be shocking that this type of social isolation can lead to mental health issues, but it might come as a surprise to discover that it can be harmful to your physical health too.
Other health problems can be the result of untreated hearing loss also. For example, untreated hearing loss has been linked to many chronic conditions, including dementia and depression. It’s also been linked to a number of comorbidities, including diabetes, heart conditions, and high blood pressure.
So scheduling a routine hearing test will be a good strategy for pretty much everyone.
Four reasons to monitor your hearing
Getting your hearing tested can be helpful to your overall health for four specific reasons.
1. Setting a baseline for your hearing is important
Why would you want to have your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, getting a hearing exam early is a good idea for several reasons. Your current level of hearing can be determined by a hearing test and that’s probably the most important thing. This will make it much easier to identify any changes in the future. This is especially true because hearing loss tends to progress slowly, the first symptoms aren’t always obvious.
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 you can, 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 you avoid many of the related issues listed above, including cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation.
3. Future changes will be easier to evaluate
Even if you are 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 modified as needed.
4. You can avoid further damage to your ears
Hearing loss that progresses slowly over time is normally caused by damage. 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 significant resource: your hearing specialist. We can give you information, treatments, and best practices that can help keep your hearing as healthy as possible.
We can help you figure out 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 assessed?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that adults undergo a hearing exam sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. Unless we recommend more frequent visits or if you notice any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing assessments.
What should I expect my hearing test to be like? Generally, they’re completely non-invasive procedures. Usually, 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.
