Why is having regular hearing tests essential? That’s because your general health can be significantly impacted by hearing loss. Getting your hearing evaluated regularly can help you identify hearing loss early, get care quicker, and, improve your health, wellness, and quality of life.
Getting a hearing exam – who should do it?
Your health and well-being can be seriously affected by untreated hearing loss. Social isolation, for example, can be a result of untreated hearing loss. Talking with family and friends can become more challenging, and individuals with hearing loss may be less likely to reach out to others, even during normal activities like grocery shopping or going to work. This type of social isolation can be detrimental to your mental health and, possibly somewhat surprisingly, your physical well-being.
Other health issues can be the result of neglected hearing loss also. Numerous chronic conditions, including depression and cognitive decline, have been linked to neglected hearing loss. It’s also been linked to various comorbidities, including diabetes, heart issues, and high blood pressure.
This means that it’s generally a good idea for just about anyone to schedule a routine hearing test.
Four reasons to monitor your hearing
There are four significant reasons why checking your hearing can be worthwhile to your overall health.
1. Establishing a baseline for your hearing is significant
Why would you want to have your hearing tested if it seems healthy? Well, getting a hearing exam early is a good plan for several reasons. The most significant is that a hearing exam 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 especially true because hearing loss tends to advance gradually, the first symptoms are not always obvious.
Getting a baseline hearing exam will help detect problems well before you observe them.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential
Hearing loss typically progresses slowly over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you catch your hearing loss early. If you treat the condition as early as you can, 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. Treatment can help you avoid many of the associated problems listed above, including cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation.
3. Future changes will be easier to measure
Even if you are diagnosed with hearing loss, that doesn’t mean your hearing will remain static for the rest of your life. Regular hearing tests can help you detect changes as you go along, and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
4. You can avoid additional damage to your ears
Most hearing loss is caused by damage, the type of damage that occurs gradually and over time. Your hearing specialist is a considerable resource and visiting us regularly will help you detect any hearing loss as early as possible. We can help you keep your hearing as healthy as possible by providing you with treatments, best practices, and information.
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 have my hearing assessed?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that adults undergo a hearing test sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. Unless we suggest more frequent visits or if you detect any hearing issues, at least every ten years will be the advised interval for hearing tests.
But maybe you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing test? Hearing tests are generally totally non-invasive. Usually, you simply listen for some tones in a special pair of headphones.
We will be able to help you get the care you require, whether you need a pair of hearing aids or you just need to protect your ears. And a hearing exam can help you determine when the best time to get your care might be.
