Hearing loss becomes more common as people age. Unfortunately, because the change typically happens slowly, often over many years, people don’t always notice that their hearing is getting worse. Read on to find out about the value of hearing health and identifying hearing loss as early as possible matters.
When to Schedule Hearing Tests
The primary focus of this article will be on the benefits of regular screening for older adults. However, it’s appropriate to schedule a hearing test any time that someone is having a hard time hearing. In younger adults, determining when that’s happening tends to be easier than it is for seniors because most cases of hearing loss are due to acute issues rather than chronic damage.
Parents should be particularly attentive to signs of hearing loss in kids since being able to hear other people is essential for speech and language development. Those signs can include delayed language, abnormal speech, failure to pay attention during conversations, and insisting on listening to the television at loud volumes. Identifying these signs and getting help immediately allows children with hearing loss to reach their full potential as they get older.
Older adults are better able than young children to identify signs of hearing loss for themselves once it gets bad enough to cause problems in their daily lives. They may start avoiding the telephone, ask people to repeat themselves more frequently, have difficulty hearing high-pitched noises, or develop tinnitus. However, not everyone notices these warning signs.
The Benefits of Regular Hearing Tests
Audiologists generally recommend annual hearing tests for people over the age of 60. However, people who work in loud environments may benefit from starting screening tests earlier. Screening for hearing loss confers many benefits, no matter a person’s age. They include:
Prevention of Further Hearing Loss
The earlier an audiologist identifies issues with hearing loss, the easier they are to manage. Identifying the cause of progressive hearing loss may help patients prevent long-term, permanent damage to their hearing. However, once the damage is done, it’s not usually reversible.
Early Intervention
The appropriate interventions for hearing loss will vary depending on its underlying cause. In all cases, though, early intervention will make it easier to avoid further complications. Some people will find that their hearing loss is secondary to another medical problem such as high blood pressure, which can have devastating health consequences. Even if that’s not the case, early treatment of primary hearing loss can help to reduce cognitive decline in older adults.
Identify Changes in Hearing
Ideally, adults will begin to undergo routine audiological testing before they develop significant hearing loss. That way, it will be easier to identify small changes in hearing levels over time, which can lead to an early diagnosis and intervention if they do begin to lose their hearing. Instead of having to go through the frustration, anger, embarrassment, and loneliness associated with untreated hearing loss, people who begin testing early will get the help they need without having to deal with these emotional impacts.
How to Schedule a Hearing Test
Getting a hearing test is easy. All it takes is finding a local audiologist and calling to schedule an appointment. The patient will get the chance to share any concerns they might have and undergo routine testing. The audiologist can then identify potential problems and propose appropriate solutions, whether that means continuing with annual testing or being fitted for a hearing aid.
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