The new year is a great reminder to prioritize better hearing. With hearing loss being one of the most common medical conditions people experience today, practicing about protecting your hearing health is important. You can start this New Year by scheduling an appointment for a hearing test.
Recognizing Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss typically occurs gradually so people may not be aware of their symptoms for quite some time. Being able to identify hearing loss symptoms can encourage you to intervene sooner. Common symptoms include the following:
- Tinnitus: a ringing or buzzing like noise in one or both ears.
- Sounds are slurred or distorted.
- Trouble following conversations in spaces with background noise.
- Lip reading to help identify individual words.
- Asking others to repeat what they’ve said, speak louder, and/or slower.
- Often responding with “huh” or “what”.
- Turning up the volume on the TV or other electronic devices.
- Feeling lost or excluded during conversations.
- Moving to a quieter space to hear more clearly.
- Fatigue after conversations and social gatherings.
These symptoms can range from mild to more severe, depending on the degree of hearing loss you’re experiencing. Symptoms strain communication, making it tough to participate in conversations. IT is common for people to avoid conversations as much as possible. Social withdrawal is another major effect of hearing loss. This not only strains relationships but also mental health. Studies show that untreated symptoms increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms as well as other health issues including cognitive decline. This highlights the importance of taking action on hearing loss and seeking treatment as early as possible.
Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
Treating hearing loss offers numerous benefits that significantly improve quality of life. There are effective hearing solutions that transform hearing and overall health. Major benefits of treatment include:
- Interpersonal benefits: treating hearing loss alleviates symptoms and increases capacity to hear. This allows people to navigate conversations with much greater ease and comfort. People are more able to engage with others and spend quality time with loved ones. Participating in everyday activities becomes easier (no more arguing over the volume of the TV!) and people have increased capacity to engage. Strengthened communication improves relationships and social life.
- Health benefits: treatment improves health in a number of ways. Numerous studies show that untreated symptoms increase health risks, this includes: cognitive decline, falls, and depressive symptoms. Treatment alleviates these risks in significant ways including strengthening cognitive functions which supports brain health. This decreases the risk of cognitive decline and boosts brain health. Treating hearing loss also increases spatial awareness and safety, allowing people to know more about the everyday environments they are navigating. This decreases the risk of falls and accidental injuries that are associated with untreated symptoms. Lasly, the interpersonal benefits of teramat support mental health and wellness, decreasing the risk of depressive symptoms.
- Financial benefits: studies have also shown that untreated hearing loss can increase health care costs, risk of unemployment, and income loss compared to people with hearing loss. But treatment strengthens health and reduces the risk of hospital readmission and falls which are correlated with increased costs. Also, studies have shown that treatment can also close the income gap by enhancing work performance and productivity.
These benefits support stronger relationships, health, and social life. Treatments transform quality of life and support people living fulfilling and active lives.
Prioritize Hearing Health in the New Year
You can prioritize your hearing health in the new year with one easy step: scheduling an appointment for a hearing test. Hearing tests are conducted by hearing healthcare specialists who have extensive experience assessing hearing health. This involves a painless process that identifies what your hearing needs are and the best way to meet those needs. The most common way hearing loss is treated is with hearing aids. These are electronic devices that are designed to absorb, amplify, and process speech as well as sound. Hearing aids support the ears and brain with processing sound, alleviating symptoms and making it easier to hear.
Today’s hearing aids are much more innovative than ever before. There is a wide range of options, technologies, and features that are designed to optimally support hearing health and increase everyday connectivity. With numerous hearing aids to choose from, our experts will help you navigate your options to ensure you select a device that will be optimal for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation. We look forward to helping you prioritize your hearing health in the new year!