Prioritize Better Hearing in the New Year!

Prioritize Better Hearing in the New Year!

In hearing health by Laurie Duffy, M.S.

A new year rapidly approaches, which means it’s time to make resolutions. Go to the gym, pursue a new creative endeavor, change jobs, save up for a trip – these are all great goals for the new year. If improving your health is on the list, we’ve got a tip for you: prioritize better hearing!

 

For people aged 50 and above, hearing specialists recommend an annual hearing test, just as you would with an eye exam and a physical. At the same time, hearing loss may occur to anyone at any age, with an exceptionally high number of young people and teenagers at risk due to loud music and media with earbuds

 

An annual hearing test will illuminate your current hearing abilities. You may not be experiencing hearing loss, but the test itself is vital for your records. Keeping track of your hearing abilities over the years will benefit you if your abilities change in the future.

 

With 48 million Americans experiencing some degree of hearing loss, and with hearing loss as the third most common medical condition, it’s a simple matter of fact that monitoring your hearing health should be a priority. If a hearing loss is found, there are benefits to catching it early and treating the problem.

Better relationships with those you love

 

Though it may sound to you like people are mumbling and that they should speak up, the reality is that difficulty with speech recognition is one of the early signs of hearing loss. If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves often, or if you find yourself avoiding social interactions, you may want to have your hearing tested.

 

An annual hearing test checks your speech recognition abilities, and a hearing specialist will monitor this ability over the years. Many of the hearing aids we offer are equipped with features to cancel out background noise and improve clarity with speech recognition. 

 

Healthy, clear communication is the foundation of successful interpersonal relationships, whether with your family or your colleagues. 

 

Earn more in the new year

Did you know that people who leave their hearing loss untreated tend to earn less than their coworkers with normal hearing or colleagues who treat their hearing loss with hearing aids? 

 

Several studies have found that people who experience untreated hearing loss tend to underperform compared to their colleagues with regular hearing/hearing aids. Hearing loss interferes with our ability to locate and recognize speech, leading to misunderstandings in the workplace. Additionally, when the brain works harder to overcompensate for hearing loss, it takes away cognitive energy that could be used on concentration and memory. As a result, people with untreated hearing loss tend to be less productive on the job. 

 

Addressing hearing loss early on will ensure optimal performance in the workplace. 

A safer, less accident-prone new year

People who experience untreated hearing loss have been found to experience a higher rate of falls, accidents, and hospitalizations. Our sense of hearing keeps us connected to the world and aware of our surroundings. From traffic on the road to hearing a fire alarm downstairs in our house, many sounds notify us of danger in our vicinity. Our auditory system is also closely linked to our vestibular system, which manages our balance. Issues with the inner ear may lead to balance problems, thus leading to falls. 

 

By taking an annual hearing test, we commit to improving our safety in many different areas of our life. 

 

Better mental health in the new year

2021 was the year that mental health and self-care took center stage, and it’s about time. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of stress, anxiety, depression, and gradual social withdrawal. Many people with untreated hearing loss tend to feel isolated from their communities, friends, family, and loved ones. This could adversely affect one’s emotional health. 

 

In addition, hearing loss is linked to several other disorders, such as dementia. Studies from Johns Hopkins University have found that people are at higher risk for developing dementia. This is due to the cognitive load placed on the brain to make out unclear sound signals. With hearing aids, our cognitive abilities are improved, and we do not have to work overtime. 

 

Time to set up your hearing test

 

As you get ready for the new year and make commitments to better health, consider scheduling an annual hearing test with us! We provide comprehensive hearing tests and hearing aid fittings.