Here are two facts that may shock you:
- Fewer than one out of every three adults who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them, and
- Of the one in five adults with hearing loss who do seek help, some wait as long as ten years to do so.
This means that the vast majority of people with hearing loss have untreated hearing loss. There are many reasons why this may be.
If you suspect that you’re in the early stages of hearing loss and are hesitant about setting an appointment for a hearing test, we want to take a moment to encourage you not to delay. Here are some of the reasons why you shouldn’t wait to get your hearing checked.
Detect Hearing Loss Early
As with any medical condition, early detection is key to effective, efficient treatment. It’s recommended that adults aged 50 to 64 get a hearing test every five years, and one every one to three years after turning 65, even if there aren’t symptoms of hearing loss yet. This is to monitor small changes in hearing and act promptly when things change.
Progression of Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss doesn’t stay the same. Instead, hearing loss will continue to progress. Perhaps you believe that your symptoms of hearing loss are mild and that you can live with it, but that can and will change, perhaps faster than you think. Don’t let hearing loss progress to a severe degree before seeking help. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is especially true for hearing health management.
Your Hearing Loss Could Be More Advanced Than You Thought
As mentioned above, hearing loss continues to progress. If your loved ones have raised concerns about your hearing—for example, asking for the TV to be turned down, or pointing out that what they said went unheard—but you continue to believe that you can manage, it could be that your hearing loss is more advanced than you think it is. Our brains are incredible at adapting, and sometimes that means that you feel everything is normal when in fact it’s time for a new treatment strategy.
Even If There’s No Hearing Loss
Maybe you get a hearing test, and the results fall within the normal hearing range. This is good news, and it’s certainly not a waste of your time. Instead, this establishes a hearing baseline that you can now continually refer to when looking for changes in your hearing abilities.
Now Is the Best Time
The cold, quiet months of midwinter and the optimism of the new year make for the ideal chance to schedule an appointment for a hearing test. Take advantage of this timing and call SH Audiology today to schedule an appointment.