From cooking meals to our jobs to social events – our lives are busy and chaotic. It most likely seems like there’s never enough time to get your hearing evaluated. And maybe you think it can wait because you don’t think you’re afflicted by hearing loss.
Here’s why you shouldn’t wait:
1. You Can Prevent Additional Hearing Loss
Many individuals don’t recognize how serious their hearing loss is becoming because it advances so slowly. As time passes, they start compensating and changing their lifestyle without knowing it. In the meantime, they continue to do things which makes their hearing loss worse.
But knowledge is power.
It can be an eye-opener to have your hearing checked. You can slow the progression of hearing loss but there isn’t any way to undo the damage already done.
It will be helpful to know how to keep your moderate hearing loss from worsening.
The progression of hearing loss can be slowed by more effectively managing chronic disease, reducing your blood pressure, and exercising more.
Your ears will be safeguarded from further damage by wearing ear protection when subjected to loud sounds and reducing your exposure.
2. You’re Missing More Than You Realize
If you are dealing with moderate hearing loss, you might have slowly forgotten how much you love listening to music. You might not remember what it’s like to have a conversation without asking family or friends to repeat themselves.
You might have slowly distanced yourself from friends or your favorite activities.
Having a hearing exam lets you measure your degree of hearing loss. In most situations, we can help improve your hearing.
3. You Might Make Your Current Hearing Aid Experience Better
If you already have a hearing aid, you may not want to wear it. You may not feel like it helps your listening experience. Having your hearing retested by a hearing specialist will help you discover if you have the best hearing aid for your type and degree of hearing loss and whether it’s correctly adjusted.
4. You Might be at Risk Already
Thirteen percent of people 12 and older in the U.S. (30 million people) have measurable hearing impairment in both ears. Among adults between the ages of 55 and 64, 8.5 percent are experiencing disabling hearing loss. Environmental factors are typically to blame. It’s not simply about getting old. The majority of it is caused by exposure to loud sound.
Your at a greater danger if you are involved in any of these activities:
- Ride loud vehicles such as a snowmobile, ATV, or motorcycle
- Work at a noisy job
- Go to plays, movies, and concerts
- Hunt or target shoot with firearms
- Turn your headphones or earbuds up too loud
- Use a motorized lawnmower
All of these everyday activities can lead to hearing loss. You need to go have your hearing checked by a hearing professional as soon as you can if you notice a decline in your ability to hear regardless of what your age is.
5. It Will Benefit Your Overall Health
If you ignore your hearing loss you will have a substantially higher chance of the following:
- Depression
- Social isolation (preferring to be alone)
- Longer treatments in hospitals and rehab
- Alzheimer’s/dementia
- Falls that result in injuries
- Slow healing or repeated hospital visits
- Missing or skipping out on doctor appointments
- Anxiety
Having your hearing tested is about more than just your hearing.
6. Tense Relationships Can be Repaired
Friends and family members can lose their patience when addressing someone who has ignored their hearing loss. Misunderstandings are more common. The situation is aggravating for everyone. Regret and bitterness can be the result. Family members and friends might even exclude you from get-togethers versus needing to constantly repeat what they said.
But here’s the good news, getting your hearing checked will help repair troubled relationships and prevent misunderstandings from occurring again.