New Year’s is the time for a fresh start. While many people use this time to make resolutions related to weight loss or to set goals to kick a bad habit, many overlook an important aspect of their wellbeing: their hearing health. Start this year off right by caring for your hearing.
Why It’s Important to Treat Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss has been associated with a number of emotional and medical problems, including higher rates of depression, anxiety and other psychosocial disorders, increased risk of injury/hospitalization from a fall and increased risk of developing dementia.
Follow our tips below to prevent these and other comorbidities.
1. Schedule an Appointment
More than 48 million Americans have hearing loss, but only 20% of those who might benefit from treatment actually seek help, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. If you suspect you have hearing loss, schedule an appointment with an audiologist who is specially trained to identify, diagnose and treat hearing loss.
If you don’t already know a trusted audiologist, ask your friends and family for a recommendation. Chances are someone you know will have a suggestion. If not, search online and read reviews to find a good audiologist in your area.
2. Follow Audiologist Recommendations
Simply learning you have hearing loss is not enough. If your audiologist recommends hearing aids or another treatment option, heed their advice.
At the appointment, your audiologist will ask you about your medical and family history of hearing loss as well as conduct a hearing test in a sound booth. The whole process takes less than an hour in most cases.
If your audiologist recommends hearing aids, you may have the option to try them out before you make the purchase. Keep in mind that putting on hearing aids is not the same as putting on a pair of glasses; it takes time for your ears and your brain to readjust to the hearing world. If you have financial barriers, talk to your audiologist, as there are many options for making hearing aids affordable.
3. Protect Your Hearing
Hearing loss is a progressive condition that can slowly get worse over time. In order to prevent this, we recommend:
- Turning down the volume on your television when watching Roadrunner games
- Using over-ear headphones rather than in-ear models
- Wearing earplugs when you participate in noisy activities like operating power tools
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Arizona Hearing Specialists today.