3 Reasons to Get Your Hearing Tested
Hearing loss is an incredibly common ailment – with as many as 48 million Americans suffering in some degree. What most people don’t realize about hearing loss, however, is how detrimental it can be if you don’t seek treatment.
We often take our hearing for granted, which means it can be easy to push aside that hearing test, reasoning with yourself that “Your hearing isn’t THAT bad.” Getting treatment for hearing loss doesn’t have to be a complicated task; in fact, there are three important reasons to get your hearing tested.
1. Don’t let your hearing get worse
Sure, your hearing loss may not be “that bad” right now, perhaps you only need to increase the television volume a few notches or you only struggle to hear on the telephone. The problem with hearing loss is that because it’s gradual, we often don’t realize how bad it is getting until it’s more severe. That means you may be missing more than you think.
Having your hearing tested allows you to stay ahead of your hearing loss. If you are currently experiencing mild hearing loss and seek treatment now, you’ll be able to keep your condition from progressing even more.
2. Stay active in your relationships
Hearing loss doesn’t just impact your physical wellbeing, it drastically affects your personal relationships as well. Communication is crucial to maintaining your personal relationships, friendships and professional ones. If you’re not comfortable in a group setting, you may withdrawal from these activities or events. This can lead to anxiety, depression or social isolation.
Additionally, you can suffer professionally from untreated hearing loss. Phone conversations and meetings can be overwhelming when you can’t easily follow them, which means your productivity could suffer.
Having your hearing tested and seeking treatment is a proactive way of helping your relationships, whether they’re personal or professional.
3. Prevent cognitive decline
When you have untreated hearing loss, your brain has to work harder to process the sounds you hear. Not only does that mean you start to “lose” those everyday sounds you’re used to hearing, it also means your brain is constantly working harder to recognize sounds. If you continue to put off treating your hearing loss, you’re more likely to suffer from cognitive decline and dementia in the future.
Having your hearing tested will help you establish a baseline for your hearing health, in addition to addressing any issues that may be negatively impacting your overall health.
Talk with an audiologist
Hearing loss doesn’t have to be detrimental to your life. By scheduling a hearing test with an audiologist in your area, you’re setting yourself up for not only hearing health success, but an improvement in your quality of life. Talk to an audiologist today and take control of your hearing health.