Why is it worthwhile to get your hearing examined on a regular basis? That’s because your overall health can be significantly affected by hearing loss. Getting your hearing assessed regularly can help you identify hearing loss early, get care quicker, and, improve your health, well-being, and quality of life.
Who should get a hearing exam?
A loss in hearing capability can generate effects that can seriously hamper your health and wellness. Social isolation, for example, can be a consequence of untreated hearing loss. Even while doing tasks such as going to the supermarket, people who suffer from hearing loss will tend to avoid reaching out to friends and family because they have a difficult time making out conversations. This kind of social isolation can be detrimental to your mental health and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, your physical wellness.
Hearing loss can cause other problems as well. For example, neglected hearing loss has been linked to many chronic conditions, including cognitive decline and depression. It’s also been linked to a number of comorbidities, including diabetes, heart issues, and high blood pressure.
This means that it’s generally a good plan for just about anybody to schedule a routine hearing test.
Four reasons to monitor your hearing
Getting your hearing tested can be helpful to your general health for four distinct reasons.
1. Setting a baseline for your hearing is significant
Why would you want to have your hearing checked if it seems healthy? Well, getting a hearing test early is a good idea for a number of reasons. The most important is that a hearing test will give us an accurate picture of your present hearing health. This will make it much easier to diagnose any changes in the future. This is particularly true because hearing loss tends to progress slowly, the first symptoms aren’t always apparent.
Before you notice any symptoms, a hearing exam will help identify hearing loss in its early stages.
2. Early diagnosis and treatment is important
Hearing loss is typically a progressive condition, meaning it often gets worse over time. You’ll have a better prognosis, as a result, if you recognize your hearing loss early. This is because you’re capable of treating the condition at the earliest possible time.
Early treatment may include anything from taking measures to protect your hearing like using ear protection in noisy settings to the use of hearing aids. Many of the related problems like cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression can be avoided with early treatment.
3. It’s easier to measure future changes
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. You can avoid further damage to your ears
Hearing loss that progresses gradually over time is normally caused by damage. Your hearing specialist is a considerable resource and visiting us regularly will help you detect any hearing loss as early as possible. We can give you information, treatments, and best practices that can help keep your hearing as healthy as possible.
We can help you determine ways to keep sounds around you quieter and also help you protect your ears from day-to-day damage.
How often should I have my hearing examined?
Generally speaking, it’s recommended that adults undergo a hearing exam sometime in their 20s or 30s, on the earlier side. It’s normally standard best practice to get a hearing test every ten years thereafter unless you detect signs of hearing loss or we recommend something more often.
But maybe you’re thinking: what should I expect at my hearing test? Hearing exams are generally totally non-invasive. Frequently, all you do is wear special headphones and listen for a specific sound.
We will be able to help you get the care you need, whether you need a set of hearing aids or you simply need to protect your ears. And a hearing exam can help you figure out when the best time to get your care might be.