Most hearing loss is subtle initially, and you might not even notice a change. Often, it is loved ones who are the first to notice and bring awareness to a person’s hearing problem. While hearing tests are a regular part of childhood, many adults tend to disregard this important checkup, unlike routine eye exams that are frequently prioritized.

Clues You May Need a Hearing Test

There are lots of daily situations where you may not be hearing everything and certainly not hearing what others do.

• Do you often request people to repeat what they said?
• Are you finding yourself cranking up the volume on your TV?
• Is it difficult to hear everyone at a loud restaurant?
• Are miscommunications or misinterpretations in your personal or professional life causing conflicts?

These type of scenarios can occur on a day-to-day basis and continue to impact relationships.

Specific Reasons to Have Your Hearing Tested On A Regular Basis

According to the guidelines provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, adults are advised to have a hearing assessment every 10 years before reaching the age of 50. For adults aged 50 and above, it is recommended to have a hearing assessment every 3 years.

1. Genetic makeup

If your family members are experiencing hearing troubles, it is a good plan to schedule a hearing evaluation with a professional specializing in hearing health.

2. Establish a Reference Point for Your Current Hearing Level

Once you know your hearing capacity in each ear, you become aware of any problems.
There are sounds you may not be hearing and impairments that might require further tests or treatments.

3. Helps Measure Future Changes

Every new test will compare new information with previous tests. Some changes happen slowly, and the tests will identify any changes even if you can’t.

4. Helps in Identifying and Addressing Issues at an Early Stage

Innovative diagnostic tools now monitor fluctuations and their rate of advancement, enabling healthcare professionals to recognize and manage problems, like excessive earwax build-up or noise-related hearing damage, at an early stage.

5. Diagnose Medical Conditions

Sometimes hearing loss is a symptom of an intrinsic medical condition like diabetes and high blood pressure (linked to hearing loss and tinnitus), plus cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. You might be able to alleviate hearing loss by managing the medical conditions causing it.

6. Stop Further Damage

When a patient doesn’t get treatment, they can become despondent and fear social situations, inviting isolation and further depression. Seniors with hearing problems can have increased injuries when they don’t hear warning signals like car horns, smoke alarms, and other sounds that indicate danger. Moreover, untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and falls.

Getting the Answers You Need

Perhaps you have suspected you have a hearing loss. Now you have answers, including the understanding that hearing aids will improve not only your hearing but also your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.

After getting the correct hearing aids to address your hearing loss, you will experience enhanced listening ability in conversations, work meetings, and while enjoying the sounds of your child’s laughter or a loved one’s voice.

Reach out to us to arrange a hearing evaluation or if you’re worried that you might be experiencing hearing troubles.