From cooking meals to our jobs to social activities – our lives are busy and hectic. Having your hearing tested most likely doesn’t seem like something you can spare the time to do. And perhaps you think it can wait because you don’t recognize you’re experiencing hearing loss.
Here’s why you shouldn’t wait:
1. You Can Stop Further Hearing Loss
Many people don’t appreciate how serious their hearing loss is becoming because it progresses so gradually. Over time, without even noticing it, they start compensating and changing their lifestyle. And because they don’t know they have hearing loss, they keep engaging in activities that make their hearing loss worse.
But knowledge is power.
Having your hearing checked can be eye-opening. You can slow the progression of hearing loss but there is no way to undo the damage already done.
It will be helpful to learn how to keep your moderate hearing loss from getting worse.
Exercising, lowering your blood pressure, and dealing with chronic diseases more effectively can slow hearing loss progression.
Your ears will be safeguarded from further harm by wearing ear protection when subjected to loud noises and reducing your exposure.
2. You Don’t Even Know How Much You’re Missing
You may have slowly forgotten your love for music if you’ve been dealing with moderate hearing loss. Not needing to ask friends and family to repeat what they said when they speak to you is something you might not even remember.
You might find yourself getting further away from doing your favorite things and spending time with friends.
Getting a hearing examination lets you measure your degree of hearing loss. In most situations, we can help improve your hearing.
3. You May Enhance Your Hearing Aid Experience
Maybe you already have hearing aids but you really don’t like to use them. You may not think they help much. Having your hearing re-examined by a hearing specialist will help you learn if you have the correct hearing aid for your kind and degree of hearing loss and whether it’s properly adjusted.
4. You Could be at Risk Already
And debilitating hearing loss is endured by 8.5% of adults 55 to64. Hearing loss is commonly caused by environmental factors. It isn’t just something that happens when you get older. Exposure to loud sound causes the majority of it.
Your at an increased risk if you are involved in any of these activities:
- Attend movies, plays, or concerts
- Ride loud vehicles like a snowmobile, ATV, or motorcycle
- Turn your headphones or earbuds up too loud
- Use a motorized lawnmower
- Work at a loud job
- Shoot firearms
All of these everyday activities can cause hearing loss. You need to go have your hearing tested 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 Total Health
If you neglect your hearing loss you will have a significantly higher chance of the following:
- Anxiety
- Social solitude (preferring to be alone)
- Slow healing or repeated hospital admissions
- Falls that result in injuries
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s
- Missing or skipping doctor appointments
- Longer time spent in hospitals and rehab
- Depression
Getting your hearing examined is about more than only your hearing.
6. Strained Relationships Can be Repaired
Friends and family members can lose their patience when dealing with someone who has ignored their hearing loss. It’s more likely for misunderstandings to occur. Individuals will become aggravated with the situation, including you. Resentment and regret could follow. Rather than constantly having to repeat what they said, friends and family might begin to exclude you from get-togethers.
But misunderstandings and troubled relationships can be prevented by getting a hearing exam and that’s the good news.