From cooking meals to our jobs to social events – our lives are busy and hectic. Having your hearing tested probably doesn’t seem like something you can spare the time to do. And perhaps you don’t even detect any hearing loss – so you think a hearing test can wait.
Here’s why you shouldn’t wait:
1. You Can Protect Against Additional Hearing Loss
Because hearing loss often advances slowly, many people don’t realize how bad it has become. As time passes, they begin compensating and changing their lifestyle without recognizing it. All the while, they continue to do things which makes their hearing loss worse.
But knowing is half the battle.
It can be an eye-opener to get your hearing checked. You can slow the advancement of hearing loss but there isn’t any way to reverse the damage already done.
It will be helpful to learn how to keep your moderate hearing loss from worsening.
Exercising, lowering your blood pressure, and managing chronic diseases more effectively can slow hearing loss progression.
Limiting your exposure to loud noises and wearing earplugs during noisy activities will further protect your inner ears from additional harm.
2. You Don’t Even Know How Much You’re Missing
If you are experiencing moderate hearing loss, you may have slowly forgotten how much you enjoy listening to music. You might not recall what it’s like to have a conversation without asking friends or family members to repeat themselves.
You may have slowly distanced yourself from friends or your favorite activities.
You can find out just how much hearing loss you have by getting a hearing test. In the majority of cases, we can help you hear better.
3. You Might Make Your Current Hearing Aid Experience Better
If you already use a hearing aid, you might not want to use it. You may not feel like it enhances your listening experience. Having your hearing re-examined by a hearing specialist will help you learn if you have the right hearing aid for your kind and level of hearing loss and whether it’s correctly adjusted.
4. You Might be at Risk Already
And debilitating hearing loss is endured by 8.5% of adults 55 to64. Hearing loss is typically due to environmental factors. It isn’t simply about getting old. Exposure to loud noise causes most of it.
Your at a greater danger if you are engaged in any of these activities:
- Mow the lawn
- Hunt or target shoot with firearms
- Go to concerts, plays, or concerts
- Have a loud job
- Turn your headphones or earbuds up too loud
- Ride loud vehicles including a snowmobile, ATV, or motorcycle
All of these daily activities can result in hearing loss. You need to go have your hearing examined by a hearing professional as soon as you can if you notice a decline in your ability to hear regardless of how old you are.
5. Your Over-all Health Will Improve
People with untreated hearing loss have a significantly higher chance of:
- Longer time spent in hospitals and rehab
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s/dementia
- Missing or skipping out on doctor appointments
- Social solitude (preferring to be alone)
- Falls that result in injuries
- Slow healing or frequent hospital visits
- Anxiety
Having your hearing checked is about more than only your hearing.
6. Repair Strained Relationships
Friends and family members can lose their patience when addressing a person who has ignored their hearing loss. Misunderstandings are more common. The situation is irritating for everyone. Regret and resentment can be the result. Family members and friends might even exclude you from get-togethers rather than having to constantly repeat themselves.
But the good news is, having your hearing checked will help restore stressed relationships and prevent misunderstandings from occurring again.